Charity to fold after judge dismisses legal challenge

THE High Court has struck out a legal case against the Charities Regulator following a report into a charity in aid of those with the degenerative condition ataxia.

The regulator found more than €84,000 was paid to Ataxia Ireland chief executive Barbara Flynn’s parents, who helped found the charity.

The charity has now said it will shut down following the regulator’s lengthy investigation.

Dublin-based Ataxia Ireland said in a statement: ‘The board feels that the charity no longer has the trust of its members or the wider public, and this makes fundraising impossible both currently and into the future.

‘The board feels that the duty of care to the members of Ataxia Ireland CLG and indeed future members, can and will be better served by a different organisation going forward.

‘The board will be closing down Ataxia Ireland CLG over the coming weeks and after continuing discussions will entrust AFI [Ataxia Foundation Ireland] with the responsibilities and duties previously performed and carried out by Ataxia Ireland for its members.’

The Charities Regulator investigation found payments to the two former trustees – totalling €84,009 between January 2008 and April 2016 – were ‘contrary to the Revenue’s stated position’ that officers, directors and trustees of a charity should carry out their duties without payment.

Ms Flynn had been granted leave to appeal and quash the report but this has now been struck out.

It comes a month after a High Court judge refused proceedings taken by Ms Flynn, who sought access to a number of documents relating to the review. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds refused the application in its entirety, saying that it was ‘neither relevant nor necessary’.

Ataxia is the name given to a group of brain and nervous disorders that affect balance, co-ordination and speech.