Charity at centre of €172,000 theft case moves towards strike-off

The Navan Mental Health Housing Association is being wound up and has been listed for strike-off following the jailing of former trustee and Fine Gael councillor Seán McKiernan for stealing more than €172,000 from the charity.

McKiernan (44), of Virginia Road, Bailieborough, was sentenced at Trim Circuit Court to three years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended.

The court heard he stole just over €172,000 from the charity over a 13-month period between March 2019 and April 2020. Gardaí found that during 2019 and 2020, McKiernan wrote 58 cheques to 33 individuals, mainly South American men.

The money was never recovered and the charity was forced to cease operating. A social club for elderly and vulnerable people linked to the organisation also closed.

McKiernan had a prominent political career before his conviction. Elected as a Fine Gael councillor for Bailieborough in 2007, he served two terms before losing his seat in 2014. At the age of 29, he became the youngest-ever cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council. He also served for several years on the Fine Gael National Executive and was prominent in the party’s youth organisation.

A communications and HR consultant, McKiernan previously worked as a development officer with Mental Health Ireland and also served on the board of Cavan-Monaghan Education and Training Board.

He became secretary and treasurer of the Navan Mental Health Housing Association in 2013.

Fine Gael said it was “shocked” by McKiernan’s actions and stressed that he had not been a member of the party for several years.

“These serious crimes have resulted in Navan Mental Health Housing Association having to cease its activities,” the party said, commending the charity, its auditors, An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions for bringing the case to justice.

In February, the Charities Regulator said it had discontinued its statutory investigation into the charity, noting that the relevant matters had been subject to a separate criminal investigation and prosecution.

The regulator said the charity’s property and activities had been transferred to another charity and that it had ceased operating and intended to wind up.

The association was listed for strike-off in June. In its application, the company said it had ceased to carry on business and that it was in its best interests to be struck off the register under Section 731 of the Companies Act 2014.

It also confirmed that its assets and liabilities were each below €150.