As the controversy surrounded suicide-bereavement organisation Console rumbles on, a publisher responsible for producing a book in aid of the charity has released a statement.
Silver Threads of Hope was published by New Island Books – an anthology of short stories from writers including Roddy Doyle, Kevin Barry, Belinda McKeon, with the introduction provided by Anne Enright.
Now, allegations of gross financial mismanagement by the CEO of Console, the publisher at New Island, Edwin Higel, has released the following statement.
As you can imagine, New Island finds the situation regarding Console perturbing and extremely reprehensible, should the allegations turn out to be true. Not least because the editor, Sinéad Gleeson, and the many contributors very generously donated their time, expertise, and talents to a worthy cause.
As with previous known cases, this illustrates the urgent need for even more rigorous statutory oversight and certification, otherwise it will seriously impact on the willingness of people, firms and organisations like ourselves to support the many issues that deserve our financial assistance.
We will certainly expect the government to help improve the situation by subjecting the relevant charities to vigorous and regular audits, so that organisations and people like New Island can be sure that our funds reach the people they are supposed to assist.
The will to help and support charitable organisations will remain, but we will make sure that the bad apples here come to notice more quickly and New Island will be on the lookout for signs that due diligence may not be at work.