Updated 11.20am
DETAILS OF THE assets of Paul Kelly, the former CEO of suicide charity Console, his wife Patricia and son Tim, will now not be revealed until next week the High Court heard this morning.
Counsel for Console Martin Hayden, who last week obtained a court order freezing all the assets of the three Kellys, has asked for more time to consider three affidavits that were handed into the court by the defendants last night.
The details of those affidavits are not as yet known.
It’s understood that the two sides will have to come to an agreement regarding living expenses for the Kellys.
If no agreement can be reached on this matter, a motion regarding same will most likely be lodged by solicitor for the Kellys James MacGuill.
As things stand, the next hearing will be in front of Justice Paul Gilligan once more next Tuesday at 10.30am.
None of the three Kellys were in court today.
“Next 48 hours critical”
Speaking after this morning’s hearing, interim CEO of Console David Hall described the next 48 hours as being “critical” as regards the charity’s future.
Describing the legal process as “like being in the ring with an octopus”, Hall said that more time was needed to consider the three affidavits filed by the Kellys last night.
“We have to sort out the issue of living expenses, and if we can’t agree then the other side will have to file a motion,” he said.
Hall mentioned that he has no idea as to Paul Kelly’s whereabouts at present, saying “I’m not paying any attention to that to be honest.”
The interim CEO is to meet with the HSE this evening and the board of the charity tomorrow, discussions that will decide the immediate fate of the charity and its employees.
While Console is likely to be wound up, what will happen to its assets, employees and clients is far less clear.
Hall revealed that 314 people remain in active counselling with the charity, with 60 counsellors employed, all of whom are owed wages. The charity is currently receiving 29 phone calls a day.
At present the objective is to keep all Console’s centres open said Hall, though he did admit that there is the “potential” for closures.
It has been now confirmed that it is once again possible to make donations to Console, although according to Hall donations have “gone very quiet”.
It had likewise been suggested that Console was set to run out of funds needed to keep the charity operational this week. In relation to this Hall said that he had received a letter from the HSE which, per his “interpretation”, will see it provide certain funds in order that “services can continue”.
Revelations
Today’s hearing came after a weekend of fresh revelations about the charity and its former CEO.
Paul Kelly stepped down as Console CEO a number of weeks ago after a HSE audit into the charity showed huge financial irregularities.
Kelly was shown to have a history of deception and had spent almost half a million euro on foreign trips, designer clothes, eating out and other expenses between 2012 and 2014 – while another half a million was spent on salaries and cars for him and his wife.
Last week, it emerged the charity is to be wound down.
The HSE is looking to transfer its services to other organisations within the State.
In another development, RTÉ This Week revealed on Sunday that Paul Kelly had been questioned by the Department of Health in 2011 over the fact that he masqueraded as a doctor in the past.
It is also the subject of a Department of Foreign Affairs investigation, with auditors investigating the finances of Console’s UK arm.
Additional reporting Paul Hosford
Comments have been disabled as a case is before the courts.
Originally published 7.53am
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