Charity wrongly paid over €84,000 to CEO’s parents

A charity where payments in excess of €84,000 were made to the chief executive’s parents contrary to explicit instructions of Revenue has been given 21 days to come up with a plan to get its affairs in order.

Between January 2014 and June 2015, Barbara Flynn, CEO of Ataxia Ireland, failed to inform the charity’s other trustees of the payments to the two founding trustees — her parents.

The charity’s questionable financial practices are outlined in a report by the Charities Regulator who appointed inspectors last November to investigate its affairs after concerns were raised.