Charity must explain itself without delay

WHEN auditors for the Health Service Executive requested a meeting, at short notice, with St John of God chief executive John Pepper and the charity’s provincial, Br Donatus Forkan, they were told that both men were leaving two days later for Malawi. On that basis, the HSE agreed to rearrange the meeting, which was scheduled to investigate revelations of undisclosed salary top-ups to Mr Pepper and 13 other senior staff members.

But, as the Irish Mail on Sunday today reveals, while Br Donatus indeed did travel to southeast Africa, Mr Pepper did not. If, between Friday, September 30, and Sunday, October 2, there was some extraordinary circumstance that made him cancel his travel plans, then Mr Pepper should have informed the HSE. Instead, it was only on Thursday last that, in a communication with the auditors, Br Donatus said he had travelled alone.

This is not acceptable. St John of God is in receipt of public funding, yet it managed to pay top-ups amounting to over €700,000 to Mr Pepper. It is right and proper that the HSE asks for an explanation of this, and of Mr Pepper’s company credit card expenditure, to make sure that we are getting value for money.

The charity sector here has taken a hammering with scandals over pay and the abuse of expenses, and its reputation must be restored. Mr Pepper no doubt feels he was entitled to his salary. We, the people who pay a large chunk of it, are entitled to hear his justification of it. He must face the auditors without delay.