Ataxia charity to close after ‘losing trust’

CHARITY Ataxia Ireland is set to be closed with its functions transferred to another body.

The board of the organisation made the announcement in a notice posted on the charity’s website. It said it believed 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 notice states. “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 charity had previously been the subject of an investigation by the Charities Regulatory Authority, which said that there was “a fundamental weakness in the financial management and control of the charity between 2014 and mid-June 2015.” The CEO at that time, Barbara Flynn, subsequently launched a High Court challenge against the investigation. Counsel for Ms Flynn said the report was not prepared in accordance with fair procedures and natural justice.

Ataxia is a term for a group of disorders that affect co-ordination, balance and speech. In severe cases it can be fatal.