The Charity Commission said it is “assessing concerns” about a UK subsidiary of an Irish charity that is currently being investigated by the police. 

The Irish branch of the suicide prevention charity Console is currently under scrutiny over allegations of financial mismanagement. 

A report aired by the Irish television programme Prime Time last night added that documents submitted to funders listed individuals as trustees who were not members of the board – including former senator Jillian van Turnhout who said she was “stunned” her name had been used.

The police examination follows news that Ireland’s public Health Service Executive is reconsidering its future funding of the charity, following an audit. The public health body previously provided approximately €2.5m over the past five years.

Today the Charity Commission said it was “aware of allegations of financial mismanagement and poor governance" made against the Irish-registered charity which is the parent charity of the UK version.

The UK charity's most recent accounts were qualified by its auditors, although the accounts have not yet been published, so the reason why is unknown.

“The Commission is assessing these concerns to determine whether there is a regulatory role for the Commission regarding the charity’s operations in England and Wales,” it said.

But a spokesman for the charity told Civil Society News the Irish and English entity are two “totally seperate legal and operational entities”.

“I wish to confirm that there are no concerns for the future of the Counselling and Support Services we provide to those in suicidal crisis and to those bereaved through suicide in the UK,” he said.

“Console Suicide Prevention UK complies with all the Charity Commissions regulations and also complies with any other statutory regulations governing the Charity sector in the UK.”