Console takeover delayed by pay fears

Plans to allow crisis-hit suicide-prevention charity Console to be taken over by a rival group are being delayed due to concerns the group’s counsellors will not be paid money still owed to them by former chief executive Paul Kelly.

It is understood the issue is one of a number of points which have failed to be clarified by either the charity, the Department of Health, or the HSE despite intense negotiations on transferring the services to Pieta House in recent days.

After a fortnight of scandal involving the organisation and Mr Kelly, Console was last week wound up with a deal struck to move its services to another group.