Widow of Console founder Paul Kelly pleads guilty to fraud probe charge as she appears in court

THE widow of the Console founder Paul Kelly has pleaded guilty to one charge arising out of a major fraud probe into the suicide charity.

Patricia Kelly, 62, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning and admitted one count of failing to keep accounts that correctly recorded and explained the transactions of the firm between December 6, 2006 and May 31, 2015.

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Patricia Kelly pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in DublinCredit: Patrick Cummins

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She pleaded guilty to the chargeCredit: Patrick Cummins

She had originally faced three counts of fraudulent trading and money laundering and was due to stand trial next month in a case, which has been brought against her by the Corporate Enforcement Agency, which was expected to last 10 weeks.

However, when the case was mentioned before Judge Patricia Ryan, the court was told Kelly wished to plead guilty to a single count relating to her involvement in the accounting of the charity.

Prosecutor Shane Costello SC said the charge was “the meat” of the case against her.

He added that in light of the plea the trial date could be vacated. Judge Ryan then sent the case before Judge Orla Crowe, who fixed February 20 next as the sentencing date.

Dressed in a purple jacket and trousers, Kelly, from Alexandra Manor in Clane, Co Kildare, only spoke briefly once just to say guilty when the charge was put to her.

She was remanded on continuing bail until the next date.

Console collapsed into liquidation in 2016 following revelations of significant financial mismanagement and extravagant spending.

The charge stated that her actions meant it was not possible at any time to determine with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the company.

Paul Kelly had been due to appear in court in early 2020 in connection to the probe into Console.

However, he took his own life in February of that year before he could be charged.

It previously emerged that State money and donations were used by Paul Kelly to fund his lifestyle.

Paul Kelly resigned in June 2016 after lavish spending and breaches of Revenue Commissioners rules were exposed.

Multiple credit cards, expensive foreign travel, restaurants and designer clothing were all features of the spending.

In court papers, David Hall, who was brought in as an interim CEO before the charity was liquidated, said there had been “a tactical and considered web of deceit” and “the prolonged abuse of public trust and public monies”.

The scandal led to a sharp decline in donations to charities generally.

It also prompted the government to commence laws giving the Charities Regulator stronger investigative and enforcement powers.

Originally from Ballyfermot in Dublin, Paul Kelly, who received a People of the Year Award just two years before his resignation, set up Console in 2002.