Members of the local branch of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Sligo have sought an inquiry to examine issues relating to a regional council of the society.
It was stressed that concerns did not relate to the operation of any of the 13 local conferences in Sligo, the local area council, or to any other local branches in the region.
Members of the Sligo branch persisted with demands for an investigation, despite a statement issued yesterday from the national council of the society stating that a review had "concluded that there is no evidence which would sustain a conclusion that funds of the society have been misappropriated".
A statement issued from the society's offices in Sligo yesterday said: "The members in Sligo are concerned about what appears to be improper practices in a superior council and have sought an investigation by the appropriate authorities."
It has been confirmed that €26,918 given to the society by the North Western Health Board has been returned.
The national secretary of the society, Ms Columba Faulkner, said yesterday that the returned money was given by the health board "for the general work of the society". She also confirmed that the Breffni regional council, which covers Sligo, Leitrim and parts of Mayo, had been "in abeyance" since October. A statement issued yesterday by the national council said it had been aware for a number of years of "significant differences between certain members in leadership positions within the Sligo/Breffni region in relation to matters of society policy and strategy implementation".
The national council took the view that "these issues were best resolved within the region".
On the basis of concerns expressed by the North Western Health Board last May, the board of the national council "conducted an enquiry regarding the application of grants by the North Western Health Board to the Breffni regional council of the society".
The statement says the national council asked an independent firm of consultants to undertake an internal assessment of the Breffni regional council's finances.
"The consultant's review of the evidence presented by the health board and the financial records of the Breffni regional council, together with the national council's own review, concluded that there is no evidence, which would sustain a conclusion that funds of the society have been misappropriated."
"The grants received from the NWHB were given subject to certain conditions. The national council also concluded that in relation to some of the grants, the conditions had not been met and accordingly a portion of the grants were refunded in December 2001."