Co Kildare man resigns from charity with Prime Time report tonight

Chief Executive Officer of Console Paul Kelly  from Co Kildare has resigned and the board of the charity has set up an independent external review of issues raised by the RTÉ Investigations Unit to be broadcast on Prime Time tonight.

Patricia Kelly, Mr Kelly's wife, also resigned as directors of the charity.

A statement issued on behalf of Console confirmed the resignations. It said the board is appointing external reviewers to appoint a review of the issues that will be raised in the RTÉ report.

As suicide became an issue of major concern in recent years, Console was endorsed by a string of high-profile figures. President Michael D Higgins is patron of the charity, as was his predecessor Mary McAleese. Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the opening of Console’s centre in Co Mayo and delivered a Christmas message on its behalf.

The organisation has expanded into the UK. Mr Kelly said he was approached by the National Health Service in Britain and also by the London Metropolitan Police, who were concerned about the number of suicides on Tube lines.