The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has disqualified a former trustee of a lifeboat charity after he froze the charity's bank accounts and withdrew a lifeboat from use, putting lives at risk.
In the regulator’s first statutory inquiry report, Lough Neagh Rescue is criticised for having historically poor record-keeping and failing to follow its own governing document. This led to CCNI having to get involved in an internal dispute at the charity, opening a statutory inquiry in 2013.
Trevor McKee has been disqualified by the regulator, and is not able to become a trustee for any other charity in the UK, after the investigation found that he had frozen the charity’s bank accounts, withdrawn a lifeboat from service, prevented the organisation from participating in fundraising events and turned away the offer of assets to help expand the organisation.
He also set up a fake website and social media accounts which could have confused the public and potential donors as well as damaged the charity's reputation.
“The Commission found that the removal of the lifeboat by Mr McKee interfered with the charity’s ability to conduct its roles, particularly training, and therefore resulted in potential risk to lives,” the report said.
CCNI also criticised the charity for allowing a “culture of rivalry” to develop between the organisation’s different lifeboat stations.
Lough Neagh Rescue now has access to its bank account, filed overdue accounts with Companies House and completed the process of registering with CCNI. The regulator is satisfied that it is now managed properly.
Myles McKeown, head of inquiries and compliance at CCNI, said: “The Commission’s aim in instituting a statutory inquiry into Lough Neagh Rescue – one of the biggest inquiries undertaken to date - was always to improve the governance of the charity so that it can operate effectively and independently as a lifesaving organisation.
“As well as taking more stringent measures in removing a trustee, the Commission also advised and guided trustees in how to improve the charity’s governance.”
