Jim

I wish to clarify something in your posting of the 14th.

You stated that "There was some doubt raised regarding the validity of the rebate so, to be on the safe side (in the present climate of fraud investigation tribunals etc here in Ireland), they returned the cheque until the matter could be clarified."

There was no doubt about the validity of the rebate. It was applied for with the benefit of professional advice from a tax consultant. What was irregular about the whole affair was the directive that the rebate should be transferred to CCE HQ. The rebate was based on the premise that for tax purposes Clasac was a separate entity to CCE. Therefore to transfer the money to CCE would have undermined the basis of the rebate. Our advice was that this would have been illegal and could have exposed individual members of the branch to potentially large liabilities. However we were suspended with a threat of dissolution if we didn't comply with the directive. Caught between a rock and a hard place we returned the money to Revenue. It was a question of complying with the law rather than with an illegal directive from CCE.
When we were ultimately dissolved the reasons given did not mention our failure to transfer the rebate. This might be read as an implicit acknowedgement of the legal status of the original directive!

Having clarified that I wish to add a personal note on the whole affair. I worked as a volunteer in CCE for 11 years holding various positions in the organisation during that time. My motivation was purely to contribute something back to the community at large. Some people look after the scouts, others the local hurling team, etc. My contribution was the local branch of CCE. I expected nothing in return. I did not expect however to be flung unceremoniously out of the organisation with accusations of financial irregularities and child exploitation.
I consider the actions of Mr Ó Murchú to be nothing less than an assault on the voluntary sector. Bertie Ahern when he was Taoiseach famously gave a speech lauding the contribution of the voluntary sector in Ireland and regreting its demise. Clearly not everyone in Fianna Fail was listening!

....and you were asking should he go!

Frank Flynn
(formerly of Cluain Tarbh CCE)