Leading depression charities to take up Console’s workload

Leading depression charities are expected to take over Console’s services this weekend, despite legal technicalities meaning the plan could not be signed off on last night.

It is understood Console’s interim chief executive, David Hall, and HSE officials will meet again with a number of organisations, including the Samaritans and Aware, over the next 48 hours in a bid to agree a way for the services to continue to function.

On Thursday, it emerged Console is to be wound up because the financial scandal surrounding former chief executive Paul Kelly means the service is damaged beyond repair and is set to run out of money within days.