Bóthar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Papuan language also known as "Bothar", see Rema language.

Bóthar is a charity operating in Ireland and the United Kingdom specialising in assisting farmers in developing countries to become self-sufficient by giving them livestock. The charity began in 1989 and sent its first animals in 1991.[1]

In April 2021, the charity's former CEO David Moloney admitted misappropriating charity funds along with founder Peter Ireton. The Irish High Court was advised that approximately €769,000 was misappropriated over at least the eight years that Moloney was CEO. Moloney resigned as CEO in February 2021.[2][3][4] Ireton was found dead at his home in April 2021.[5]

Programs[]

Starting in 1991, the charity initially focused on sending dairy cows to developing nations in Africa.[1] However, in 1996, the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis brought a halt to heifer airlifts for several years.[6] During this period, the only animals that Bóthar sent abroad were dairy goats.[7] However Bóthar continued to send veterinary supplies, vehicles, artificial insemination straws and training literature. Bóthar investigated whether other countries needed assistance and researched other types of farm animals they could work with.[citation needed] This subsequently led to the establishment of chicken and pig projects in Cameroon.[citation needed]

Bóthar later established bee projects in five African countries (Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon and Zambia), a breeding yak programme in Tibet, and a rabbit programme in China.[8] Following the lifting of embargoes after later foot and mouth outbreaks in Ireland, the heifer programme was expanded to include Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, Lebanon, Malawi, Albania and Kosovo. Goats were sent by Bóthar to Tanzania, Kenya, Lebanon, Mozambique, Poland, Uganda and Gambia.[citation needed]

Controversy[]

In April 2021, former Bóthar chief executive David Moloney admitted to misappropriating funds from the charity and concocting payments to the amount of an estimated €769,000. In a hearing before the High Court it was stated that this misappropriation occurred over the eight years he had been CEO and a period before that. Moloney admitted to misappropriating these funds along with the (by then deceased) Bóthar founder Peter Ireton. Moloney had resigned as CEO in February 2021.[2][3][4] Ireton had been found dead at his home several weeks before the hearing.[5]

In the hearing, the High Court was told the funds had been obtained by falsifying donations to charity projects, with the recipients of these donations claiming they were never received. In one instance, Moloney admitted that a payment of €127,000 was made to an English company Agricultural Innovation Consultants Limited for a project in Rwanda had never been carried out. Moloney also admitted to fraudulently paying €100,000 of the charity's funds to one of his three pension funds and using €10,000 to purchase a hayshed on a farm he owns. The High Court was informed funds were also spent on providing staff cash bonuses of which the charity's board was not informed.[2][3][4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bothar.ie - History of Bóthar". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Keena, Colm. "Former Bóthar chief admits taking hundreds of thousands from charity". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c O’Faolain, Aodhan (2021-04-27). "Former Bóthar CEO admits misappropriating funds for personal use". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c O'Donnell, Orla (27 April 2021). "Former Bóthar CEO admits 'significant wrongdoing' in relation to funds". RTÉ. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Beesley, Arthur (19 April 2021). "Bóthar founder Peter Ireton found dead at home in Limerick". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ^ "BSE ban hits plans to donate Irish cows". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 12 October 1996. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Charity focuses on sending goats to developing countries". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 16 September 2000. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Yak plan to breed hope for farmers". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 20 August 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""