Charities due missing €3.8m have been contacted, court told

More than 700 charitable organisations have been contacted as part an investigation into a Dublin online charity donation platform, the High Court has heard.

The court was also told on Friday the managing director of Pembroke Dynamic, Peter Conlon, has been detained by prosecutors in Zurich Switzerland since before Christmas following a complaint by the International Federation of the Red Cross about not receiving monies donated to them via the platform.

Rossa Fanning SC, for liquidator Myles Kirby, said his client had contacted charities as part of his attempts to locate an estimated €3.8 million donated to, but never received, by various charities through a service provided by Pembroke Dynamic, Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2

Mr Kirby previously secured freezing orders against Mr Conlon from the court and Mr Fanning updated the court today on matters.

Counsel said there was “no good news” arising out of Mr Kirby’s further investigations of Pembroke Dynamic’s affairs.

Missing donations

Mr Kirby had contacted some 700 charities that had dealt with Pembroke Dynamic and had received numerous phones calls on behalf of charities in respect of missing donations, he said.

Mr Kirby had also spoken to the office director of Corporate Enforcement and the Charities Regulator.

Counsel said attempts had been made to notify Mr Conlon of the proceedings via text message, email and personally at his given home address at St Mary’s Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

While no response had been received to the messages sent electronically and service was not accepted at the Dublin 4 address, he believed Mr Conlon was aware of the action here.

Mr Fanning said Mr Kirby has been in contact with a prosecutor in Zurich Switzerland who confirmed Mr Conlon was detained at Zurich Airport shortly before Christmas.

His arrest followed a criminal investigation into claims by the Red Cross it had not received "millions" donated through the Ammado platform, linked to Mr Conlon.

Mr Conlon remains in custody in Zurich, and the presumption of innocence applies, counsel said.

Wound up

The judge said the liquidator should see if Swiss lawyers, believed to be representing Mr Conlon, would accept service of the proceedings by the liquidator.

Pembroke Dynamic was wound up last month arising out of its failure to satisfy a Revenue debt of approximately €400,000 and the liquidator was appointed.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Kirby secured freezing orders against Mr Conlon after discovering various charities had not received some €3.8 million donated to them via the platform, whereby it collected donations made to charities before sending them the money, minus a 5 per cent commission. The charities affected include United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Red Cross, and Save the Children UK

In a sworn statement, Mr Kirby has said it appeared Mr Conlon, a shareholder in various corporate vehicles that own Pembroke Dynamic, was “guilty of very serious misconduct”.

Mr Kirby sought the freezing orders over his “very serious concerns” following his investigations into the company’s affairs and fears Mr Conlon may attempt to dissipate assets. Mr Kirby believes the missing funds were used to run the company and by Mr Conlon for personal expenditure, the court heard.