Children’s charity probed over governance and theft claims

A charity set up by the father of two children who died of a rare and fatal disease is the subject of a preliminary review by the charities’ watchdog on foot of complaints about governance and an alleged theft.

The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it has begun an assessment of information relating to concerns about the Saoirse Foundation “to ascertain whether further action is required”.

Gardaí are also investigating a complaint from a former director of the charity, David Hall, who is disputing an alleged theft from an ambulance bought by the charity through fundraising.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed yesterday that the matter “is still under investigation”.

Earlier this year four directors, including Mr Hall, resigned from the charity, also known as Bee for Battens, citing governance issues. Mr Hall also disputes a claim by charity founder, Tony Heffernan, that the charity ambulance or “Bumbleance” was targeted by a thief at last year’s National Ploughing Championship.

At the time, Mr Heffernan said equipment worth in the region of €800 was taken but Mr Hall claims he has CCTV footage from inside the vehicle which shows a theft did not occur.

The alleged theft generated significant media coverage and the public dug deep to help out, with an estimated €40,000 received in donations.

The Bumbleance had been operated by Lifeline, a private ambulance company of which Mr Hall is chief executive, however Mr Hall said they withdrew their services last week.

The HSE confirmed yesterday that since last Tuesday, its national ambulance service has been working in partnership with the Saoirse Foundation “in order to provide a service to their patients and clients on an interim basis”.

The Bumbleance is a specially designed ambulance to transport sick children.

The Irish Examiner was unable to make contact with Mr Heffernan yesterday but he has previously told the newspaper that he was “very happy” for gardaí to investigate Mr Hall’s complaint and that he had no objection to a governance review as long as it had a timeline and financial cap. Deloitte is currently conducting a governance review.

The Department of Justice said: “In general, it is anticipated that the authority [regulator] consider taking further action where it forms the view that the complaint related to serious potential abuse of a charity, its assets, or its beneficiaries.”

Tony and Mary Heffernan lost two children, tragically, to Battens Disease, their daughter Saoirse in 2011 and their son Liam in 2014.