EX PRIEST RESIGNS AS CHARITY CEO AMID FINANCIAL AUDIT.

Cara Lodge, Matt Talbot Adolescent Services’ residential facility for troubled teenagers in Enniskeane, West Cork.

TUE, 08 JUN, 2021 MICHAEL CLIFFORD THE EXAMINER

The chief executive of the Matt Talbot Adolescent Services (MTAS) charity has resigned with immediate effect. 

Patrick Relihan had been on sick leave since last March. 

In February, the HSE began a financial audit of the Cork based charity. 

The Irish Examiner understands that the audit was prompted by allegations of financial mismanagement and followed a major review of the MTAS operation in recent years. 

The audit is ongoing and no findings have yet been made from it. 

The chair of the charity, former GAA president Christy Cooney, yesterday informed some of the staff about Mr Relihan’s departure. 

When contacted, Mr Cooney said that he had no comment to make on Mr Relihan’s position. 

Asked about the financial audit being undertaken by the HSE, he repeated that he had no comment to make. 

MTAS, which treats young people with addiction problems, has been in operation for over 20 years in Cork City and, until last year, through a residential centre in West Cork. 

Originally, the organisation was affiliated with the Catholic Church which had set it up to help troubled teenagers. 

Until last year it was in receipt of around €1.25m from the HSE annually.

Mr Relihan was appointed CEO in May 2015. A former priest, who had been a school chaplain in the Cloyne diocese, he had a diploma in applied chemistry and a bachelor in theology from a university in Rome.

He was appointed CEO in May 2015.
Following his appointment, he acquired a diploma in management in 2016.

His appointment as chief executive coincided with plans to expand the charity’s operation, including attempts to source funds outside the HSE, which is principal funder of MTAS. 

However, in the following years, the organisation was beset with major internal difficulties in which a number of staff members left the organisation. 

One senior staff member was suspended on full pay for four years and this person and another former staff member both took legal actions which resulted in out-of-court settlements.

In October 2019, the Irish Examiner reported that a number of protected disclosures had been made to the HSE about the charity and a major review was being undertaken. 

A review commissioned by the HSE into MTAS operations was conducted in 2019 and due to report by the autumn of that year. 

However, the report was never published and the HSE told the Irish Examiner last year that this was because the reviewers had gone beyond their remit in investigating MTAS.

Last October, the west Cork residential facility, based in Enniskeane, was closed with the loss of 18 jobs. 

At the time, the HSE and MTAS attributed the closure to a fall off in demand for residential places for young people, combined with a change of policy placing more emphasis on day care treatment. 

However, a number of professionals working in the area disputed that there was less demand for residential places.

No response was received at the time of going to press from the HSE to queries about Mr Relihan’s resignation or the financial audit.

COMPLAINT TO CHARITY REGULATOR ABOUT SPENDING IN CORK ADDICTION CENTRE.

Complaint to Charities Regulator about spending at Cork addiction centre

Last year, the HSE and MTAS announced that the charity’s residential centre in West Cork was ceasing operations. 

THU, 10 JUN, 2021 – MICHAEL CLIFFORD THE EXAMINER.

A complaint was made to the Charities Regulator about the operation of Matt Talbot Adolescent Services in early May, the Irish Examiner has learned. 

The complaint detailed a number of allegations about mismanagement, including the expenditure of “a sum in excess of €400k with no benefit and to the detriment of our service users”.

The allegation details how the money had to be spent on staff-related issues because of the alleged mismanagement. 

There was no suggestion that money was misappropriated by any individual.

The chief executive of Matt Talbot Adolescent Services (MTAS) Patrick Relihan resigned with immediate effect this week.

The Cork-based organisation provides treatment to teenagers with addiction problems and employs 40 staff. 

Its main funder is the HSE, which contributes in excess of €1.2m annually. 

Financial audit

The HSE has been conducting a financial audit since February, which is ongoing. The HSE also commissioned a review of the operations at MTAS in 2019 but decided not to publish the outcome. 
Last year, the HSE and MTAS announced that the charity’s residential centre in West Cork was ceasing operations. 

Cara Lodge, which closed with the loss of 18 jobs, was the only non-private centre of its kind in the country.

Chief executive of Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Patrick Relihan resigned with immediate effect this week.

A spokesperson for the Charities Regulator said it “does not comment or give updates on open concerns as this could prejudice a charity or our regulatory work”. 

The spokesperson added that if the regulator decides to conduct a statutory inquiry, it will be publicised at that time.

Four protected disclosures

The complaint to the regulator follows four protected disclosures from members of staff in recent years, all alleging shortcomings in various aspects of the management of the charity. 

The outcome of the first of these disclosures was a recommendation in January 2020 for a full audit. 
However, the HSE did not commence that audit for another 13 months. A spokesperson for the HSE said it was not commenting on MTAS at this point.

MTAS has been in operation for more than 20 years and was originally under the auspices of the Catholic Church. 

Canon Donal Linehan was a board member until 2016 as was Tim Crean, a brother of the current Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean. Mr Relihan had left the priesthood in 2014, a year before his appointment as chief executive of MTAS. 

The current board includes former GAA president Christy Cooney, who serves as chair, and former Cork hurling manager Bertie Óg Murphy. When contacted, Mr Cooney said he had no comment to make.
Messages left for Mr Relihan had not received a reply.

PAT SAYS

Patrick Relihan is the former protege of the retired Bishop John Magee, secretary to three popes.

He is also the former assistant director of vocations for the diocese of Cloyne.

Bishop Crean’s brother, Tim, was on the board of MTAS.

It started off life as a Catholic organisation.

I imagine there will be an outcome when the HSE and Charity regulator have finished their report?

THE COMMENT OF A SENIOR DUBLIN PRIEST ON HEARING THAT GER NASH IS TO BE THE BISHOP OF FERNS.