Crisis-hit Console charity seeks counselling house go-ahead

Beleaguered suicide bereavement charity Console has sought planning permission to continue using a residential property in Newcastle as a counselling centre.

The charity has sought permission for retention of use of the house after it had to vacate a premises in Renmore “because of circumstances beyond their control”.

According to the planning application for 13 Dun Daingean in Newcastle, a rented house, will offer a counselling service from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

In a letter to Galway City Council, Paul Kelly – who has since resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Console – said: “Console will appoint three counselling and therapeutic staff to work from the new facility and we expect there will be no more than two staff cars parked at the centre at any time.

“It is anticipated that four pre-arranged counselling sessions will be provided each day, meaning that there will be no more than two visitors in the centre at any one time. A support group for the suicide bereaved will take place every month. This takes place from September to May. The service will not provide a ‘drop in’ facility,” Mr Kelly said.

A decision on the application is expected in mid-August.

An RTE investigation has found that Mr Kelly and his wife and son spent almost €500,000 on foreign trips, groceries, designer clothes, rugby tickets, eating out and dental work between 2012 and 2014 using credit cards held by the charity.