Charities ‘unfairly demonised’ over top-ups

Charities have been "unfairly demonised" by the top-ups controversy, resulting in groups which have complied fully with all rules and regulations being effectively starved of funding.

Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII) chairman, James McCarthy, made the claim as he urged the public to start donating again to trusted groups.

Speaking at the launch of the group’s research into crisis unemployment and poverty levels for people who have suffered serious spinal injuries, the senior official said he understood the anger over the top-ups scandal at the Central Remedial Clinic and Rehab, among others.