Former CRC chairman has a ‘clear conscience’

The ex-chairman of the crisis-hit Central Remedial Clinic has "apologised" for its charity top-ups scandal — but has insisted he and his colleagues have a "clear conscience" as they did nothing wrong.

Hamilton Goulding made the claim as the latest Dáil public accounts committee was told clawing back a fortune in charitable donations given to ex-officials instead of frontline services, will be a drawn-out battle.

Speaking during a six-hour meeting on the recent HSE interim administrator’s report into how taxpayers’ money and charitable donations were used by senior CRC bosses, Mr Goulding said the revelations have been “very difficult for me personally”.