The film by Midas Pictures looked at how housing and homelessness had been addressed decade-by-decade since the birth of the Irish State.

Warmly received by the audience, it featured the founder of the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT) as a contributor in the film.

Fr Peter McVerry then appeared as a guest at the post-screening Question and Answer session.

It was October 2023, and an investigation into the PMVT had already got under way by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA).

AHBRA commenced the investigation due to several financial and governance issues that had emerged during the summer of 2023.

'No evidence of financial fraud'

In September 2023, Fr McVerry had said there was "absolutely no evidence of financial fraud or misappropriation of funds", and he added that the charity would continue to deliver services as it always did.

The question of the investigation did not arise during the Cinema Q&A, nor did the news that CEO Francis Doherty had tendered his resignation to the PMVT board of directors just 24 hours earlier.

Mr Doherty said that despite the immediate financial challenges he overcame as CEO, he was left in an untenable position by trustees.

Mr Doherty was chief executive of the charity for four months after taking over from Pat Doyle, who was at the helm of the organisation for almost 19 years.

Rescue package

As people emerged from the cinema into the autumnal midday sun, news had also dropped that the Charities Regulator was beginning its own investigation into the charity.

The situation was unravelling for the biggest homeless service in the State, and the potential consequences were real.

Growing homeless figures following the Covid-19 pandemic led to fears in government circles and amongst other homeless charities that if the PMVT fell, there could be a domino effect.

The results could be catastrophic, and the greatest impact would be on the most vulnerable.

In November 2023, a rescue package of €15 million was agreed by the cabinet, along with some accelerated advance funding.

Despite calls from the Oireachtas Housing Committee for representatives of the PMVT to explain how that money was spent, the PMVT said it was not in a position to answer questions while two statutory investigations were under way.

Management failures

In October 2024, the findings of the Charities' Regulator found failures relating to management, oversight and administration by the board.

Inspectors highlighted instances of a lack of adequate and appropriate financial controls to enable the board to exercise control.

The report said no cash flows, cash on hand, asset or liability figures were provided to the audit committee or to the board until July 2023, subsequent to Mr Doherty taking over as CEO in the summer of 2023.

Ultimately, the Charities Regulator was concerned about the implications for public trust and confidence in the wider charity sector and said it would follow up with the board for assurances that matters raised by inspectors were properly addressed.

'Significant breaches of regulatory standard'

Two months later, the AHBRA findings landed.

It criticised the PMVT for "significant breaches of regulatory standards".

The regulator found there were "inadequate controls and procedures" in place at the organisation.

Many viewed the absence of internal controls as astounding.

Following the publication of its report, AHBRA announced the appointment of an independent expert to oversee reforms in the PMVT over a six-to-nine-month period.

Changes to the board of the PMVT this week led to the assumption that these were as a result of oversight from the independent expert.

However, AHBRA confirmed that while it was made aware in advance of the changes to be made at board level, "these decisions were a matter for the board and the individuals concerned and were not recommended by AHBRA, or anyone acting on its behalf."

A changing company

Measures are under way to replace Deirdre-Ann Barr, who has stepped down from the position of chairperson.

What was viewed as bigger news was that Fr McVerry had also stepped down from his role as company secretary, but remained on the board.

Considering boards work collectively as a body corporate, one source pointed out that titles on a board are irrelevant.

Arguably, the move by Fr McVerry to step down as company secretary may be wise, considering the level of administration involved with additional duties such as preparing and filing annual returns with the Companies Registration Office.

It was also announced this week that the term of appointment of three directors came to an end at the end of 2024 and that these had been replaced.

Once the role of chairperson is filled, it is likely requests from the Oireachtas Housing Committee for representatives to go before it to answer questions will resume.