Clonmel man resigns from Irish Red Cross’ Board of Directors 

A Clonmel man has resigned from the Irish Red Cross' Board of Directors after failing to be supplied with information he requested in relation to the charity's finances.

But former county and borough councillor Darren Ryan stresses he is still very much involved in the Irish Red Cross locally and nationally despite stepping down from the Board. 

His resignation from the Irish Red Cross' Board was revealed in a Sunday newspaper report about the financial crisis the charity is facing causing it to cut full time posts and leave positions unfilled. 

Mr Ryan said he resigned from the  Board of Directors in May because of concerns he had in relation to the management of finances within the organisation. 

He explained he sent an email requesting information about the Irish Red Cross' restricted funds (funds designated for a specific purpose) on April 25 but received nothing. He raised the matter at a Board meeting on May 19 and repeated his request. When he didn't receive the information, he became concerned.    

"I found my position was untenable and on May 21 I informed the Chairman Pat Carey of my decision."

Mr Ryan said he was on the Board of Directors for four years and enjoyed the experience.

. "To be elected onto the Board was quite an achievement for a local volunteer. It's not a decision I took lightly. As a member of the Board you would imagine that when you seek information in relation to the finances of the charity, it would be provided.” 

He said his request for information wasn't prompted by any particular issue that was brought to his attention. He said he was a stickler for good governance and oversight from many years being a member of committees locally and it wasn't unusual for him to make such requests. 

In relation to this week's media report about a fall in donations, redundancies and a financial crisis at the Irish Red Cross, Mr Ryan said he was not aware of the decisions and actions taken by the Board of Directors since his resignation. "All that( the redundancies) came after my decision. When I stepped down, I handed back my Board email so I wouldn't have been now  on the email to see all that information." 

Mr Ryan, who is involved in the Red Cross for 26 years, pointed out that he was still a member of the Irish Red Cross' General Assembly and continues to chair the charity's national Safe Guarding Committee, which is over child protection and Garda vetting. 

He also continues to serve as Secretary of Clonmel's Irish Red Cross Branch and works as a Red Cross volunteer covering events in the Clonmel area.

The Irish Red Cross issued a statement saying the charity regretted Darren Ryan felt the need to resign from the Board, which he served on with distinction. “Mr Ryan did request information about specific funds and bank balances which were not supplied to him as he requested before the Board meeting. 

“But the issues relating to the information were addressed at the meeting. He is a great loss to the Board given his experience and expertise,” the statement concluded.