Charity Commission ‘threatened grieving widow with legal action over remarks about dead husband’

A report examining the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has criticised its treatment of a grieving police widow, saying she was threatened with legal action over a message about her dead husband.
By Adam Kula
Published 21st Oct 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 21st Oct 2020, 14:25 BST
The report looked at, among other things, the CEO’s circulation of a Father Ted quote describing the needy as ‘b*****ds’The report looked at, among other things, the CEO’s circulation of a Father Ted quote describing the needy as ‘b*****ds’
The report looked at, among other things, the CEO’s circulation of a Father Ted quote describing the needy as ‘b*****ds’

It has also called into question the judgment of commission CEO Frances McCandless over a Facebook post she made, which quoted from a scene in sitcom ‘Father Ted’ in which the needy were described as “a shower of b*****ds”.

The Charity Commission last night dubbed the report “deeply flawed” and called for it to be withdrawn.

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The report – which has been leaked into the public domain via loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson – is dated August 2020 and bears the name of Jonathan Baume, whose career was as a top civil servant and trade unionist in GB.

The highly complex report is addressed to David Sterling, head of the NI Civil Service.

Much of it is spent examining the commission’s dealings with a woman who founded the Disabled Police Officers’ Association NI (she has requested we do not specifically name her here).

Her husband was left disabled in a Troubles attack, and the two of them set up the association 30 years ago.

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She was aggrieved by the forced removal of some of her charity trustees by the commission, among other actions.

She also believed the commission’s activity “hastened” her husband’s death by heart attack – and said so publicly.

The report states that when she did so, she was then threatened with a defamation lawsuit on behalf of the commission.

Mr Baume’s report goes on to say: “Regardless of whether [the commission] had any legal grounds for such threats, it hardly seems an appropriate response by a public body to the grieving widow of a disabled police officer.”

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The report adds that a layman would look at such an action and see “prima facie evidence of problematic cultural issues” within the commission.

The report also reveals a concern about Frances McCandless’ use of Facebook.

Although the report does not cite the specific Father Ted quotes which Ms McCandless circulated on Facebook, the News Letter understands it was this exchange:

Fr Dougal: “Father Jack hated the needy.”

Fr Ted: “He did. What was that special name he had for them?”

Fr Dougal: “A shower of b*****ds.”

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The report says: “One can question whether it was appropriate for the chief executive of the Charity Commission to share a quote which describes the needy in such terms.”

The commission said it was only issued with a redacted copy of the report by the Executive Office yesterday afternoon.

It said: “The commission has not been asked to contribute to the report in any way, nor has the commission been afforded an opportunity to clarify, justify, rebut or provide evidence regarding any of the allegations or comments made.

“The commission is committed to the highest standards of governance. As such, the commission takes allegations against its governance, staff and culture extremely seriously.”

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It added: “It is the commission’s view that the report, which has been put into the public domain, is deeply flawed and a request is being submitted to the Executive Office for the report to be withdrawn with immediate effect.”

READ MORE FROM THE NEWS LETTER:

CLICK HERE: IN FULL: Outspoken anti-lockdown doctor on why she’s quitting council seat

CLICK HERE: Dissident who avoided jail after judge was told he ‘matured’ still vocally backs hardcore republicans

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