A CANCER research team in Dundee are to receive a £1.5 million windfall from a scandal-hit charity.
The donation was approved yesterday by a judge at the Court of Session, where three years ago charity watchdogs exposed mismanagement at Paisley-based Breast Cancer Research (Scotland).
An accountant appointed to take over the running of the charity has gathered in funds of £2.15 million, and intends to give the money to Dundee University’s breast cancer research centre at Ninewells Hospital.
At yesterday’s hearing, Lord Glennie was asked for permission to make the initial payment of £1.5 million.
Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) was founded in 1996 and became the subject of an investigation by the Scottish Charities Office (SCO). In 2003, the SCO petitioned the court to have four individuals suspended from any role in the charity’s management: in the seven years since its formation, it had received more than £13 million but only £1.5 million had gone to charitable causes.
Criminal charges are pending against one man in relation to the charity.
The Dundee centre had been one of the beneficiaries of the charity, receiving about £500,000 before the court action. Lord Glennie was told that William Cleghorn, the accountant put in charge of the charity, had decided with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator that it was the most suitable recipient of the recovered funds.
