Arts chief defends €9m in funds to friend Colgan
THE Director of the Arts Council says she does not have a conflict of interest over her close friendship with alleged ‘sex pest’ Michael Colgan – despite the council funding his theatre to the tune of nearly €9m during her time with the body.
Orlaith McBride, through a spokesman, confirmed this week that she never recused herself from council discussions about money for the Gate Theatre, despite her friendship with its director, Mr Colgan.
It has also emerged that she did not disclose this friendship to either board members or Arts Council colleagues.
The cultural chief served on the board of the national arts agency for eight years before she became Arts Council Director. During this time, the Gate received a total of €8.741m in funding from the council.
Since Ms McBride became director six years ago, the Gate has received an additional €4.5m in grants.
The arts chief’s friendship with Mr Colgan was raised by Senator Fintan Warfield when she appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht last week. However, a public discussion about that friendship was suspended after the chair of the Committee, Peadar Tóibín, intervened.
The Sinn Féin TD claimed that if his colleague, Senator Warfield, continued with his line of questioning, it could affect any legal cases that may be taken against the theatre.
‘I’m told that the matter could be subjudice and, as a result, there are a number of objectives we have, said Mr Tóibín. ‘We want to safeguard any victims there may be in the whole process.’
In recent weeks, several women have claimed they were sexually harassed and bullied by Mr Colgan, 67, while he was a board member and director of the Gate.
Colgan worked at the theatre for 37 years until his retirement last year. Harassment and bullying allegations against him are being investigated by an independent consultant appointed by the Gate.
This weekend the Arts Council confirmed Ms McBride never removed herself from discussions about the theatre during her tenure on the board and as director.
When asked if she had informed council board members and colleagues about their friendship, a spokesman for Ms McBride said the arts chief did not believe she had any conflict of interest issues.
A spokesman said: ‘Orlaith McBride has no conflict of interest, and has never had any conflict in dealing with matters concerning the Gate Theatre.’