A Glamorous Night with a Dark Shadow in the heart of Monaghan, a glittering charity event in February 2025 promised hope and goodwill, with prominent politician Heather Humphreys as its star attraction.
Named Monaghan Person of the Year, Humphreys lent her considerable influence to the fundraiser, drawing crowds and local media attention. As the winner, she was to pick her chosen charity to donate the funds to but apparently, these funds never arrived at their destination!
So beneath the sparkle of live music, €70 tickets, celebratory raffles, caviar, lobsters, champagne, and contentious winners, a storm was brewing. A Garda fraud investigation has now cast a long shadow over the event, raising troubling questions about where the money went and who is to blame.
The Farney Foundation: A New Player with Big Promises
The event was orchestrated by the Farney Foundation CLG, a company incorporated just a month before the gala on January 10, 2025.
Promising to promote Monaghan globally, the non-profit entity vowed to donate proceeds to a charity chosen by Humphreys, with €1 votes for the Person of the Year award supposedly funneling 70 cents each to the cause.
Yet, whispers of doubt soon emerged. The Farney Foundation, despite its lofty claims, is not registered with the Charities Regulator. Could this oversight have been a red flag that went unnoticed? Was the Farney Foundation only interested in promoting its own bank accounts? How come Humphreys won the competition in what some see to be highly contentious circumstances? These are the questions that need to be answered.
Gardaí Step In: A Criminal Probe Unfolds
In May 2025, Gardaí contacted Humphreys, alerting her to a criminal investigation into the event’s organizers. Allegations swirled that tens of thousands of euros raised—through ticket sales, sponsorships, and raffles—had never reached the promised charities.
Only recently have some cheques trickled out to beneficiaries, but far too late for many. Why only donate some of the money after the presidential campaign began?
The Garda Síochána is now taking witness statements, probing whether funds were raised under false pretenses. Was the event’s charitable promise a facade? The investigation is ongoing, with Gardaí tight-lipped, stating only that it focuses solely on the organizers, not participants like Humphreys.
Humphreys in the Spotlight: No Wrongdoing, but Questions Persist
On the face of it, Heather Humphreys is not accused of any wrongdoing. Her spokesperson insists she attended the event “in good faith,” expecting the organizers to fulfill their duties. Yet, her prominent role—her name emblazoned across promotions and celebrated in post-event press releases, her triumphantly winning of the competition in disputed circumstances—has left her entangled in a public relations nightmare.
Did Humphreys ask enough questions? Should a politician of her stature have vetted the Farney Foundation more thoroughly before lending her name to their cause? How did she win ahead of a darts world champion etc? These are the questions echoing through Monaghan’s communities, where trust in such events has been shaken.
Transparency Troubles: Cash Payments and Missing Invoices
Charity volunteers have sounded the alarm, voicing deep concerns about transparency. They report no dedicated bank account for the event, with participants often asked to pay in cash—a practice described as “highly questionable” in 2025. Sources say some of the organisers had a propensity to hold stacks of €50 euro notes bundled together in their pockets. For the Farney Foundation, it seems, the old saying of “cash is king” was the order of the day.
One volunteer, seeking an invoice to pay via bank transfer, was left empty-handed, even after follow-ups. Another who tried to pay by bank card was told to withdraw the money from his bank account as “around here cash is king.”
A letter from volunteers to the organizers demanded answers: “Where has the money gone?” they asked, noting a lack of updates and “mixed messages” about how much would actually reach charities. The silence from the Farney Foundation was deafening. Holidays and lavish spending on personal items only further fueled suspicions that perhaps some people where abiding by the principle of “charity starting at home”.
A Community Betrayed?
The event was a spectacle, backed by prominent local businesses and the Monaghan County Council. It promised to uplift the community, targeting vulnerable groups with its fundraising pitch. Yet, volunteers now feel betrayed, accusing organizers of exploiting goodwill for profit. “There was so much money made,” one volunteer lamented, “by targeting vulnerable people in our community.”
There was also was uproar online when she won the competition ahead of a world darts champion and other, as some would see it, more deserving people.
The Farney Foundation’s organizer has dodged questions, even when approached directly by journalists.
A fleeting encounter with a reporter from the Irish Independent ended with the organizer driving away in his brand new Mercedes Benz, smiling, and leaving only a cryptic “No problem” in their wake.
Ireland’s Defamation Laws: A Veil of Secrecy
Initially, due to Ireland’s stringent defamation laws, key details—such as the event’s exact location and specific identifiers—had to remain redacted but this is no longer the case after Humphreys outed herself.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Monaghan, where charity events are a cornerstone of community life. From sponsored sports matches to concerts and award ceremonies, politicians like Humphreys frequently lend their star power. But this incident raises a sobering question: How can the public trust that funds raised in good faith will reach those in need?
Humphreys’ Response: A Call for Accountability
Humphreys, through her spokesperson, has distanced herself from the controversy but some of these details don’t entirely stack up when you factor in she actually won the competition in disputed circumstances. Who was presented the cheque?
According to Humphreys, she purchased tickets to the event and participated as an invited guest, with no role in its organization. When contacted by Gardaí, she was informed that the investigation targeted the organizers, not her. She has not spoken to the organizer since shortly after the event and ignored a recent request for a photo op with the charity.
Yet, the question lingers: Could more due diligence have spared Monaghan this embarrassment? Is there anything else to come out of the closet?
Humphreys’ name, synonymous with the event’s success, now carries the weight of its fallout.
A Cautionary Tale for Irish Politics
This unfolding drama serves as a stark reminder for politicians across Ireland. Charity events, while noble in intent, can become lightning rods for controversy if not carefully scrutinized and some Del Boy type figures are running the show.
The Monaghan scandal underscores the need for transparency in fundraising and rigorous vetting of organizers, especially when high-profile figures are involved.
As the Garda investigation continues, Monaghan waits for answers. Will the truth about the missing funds come to light? And will this saga prompt a reckoning for how charity events are run in Ireland? For now, the spotlight remains on the Farney Foundation—and the unanswered questions surrounding a night that promised so much but delivered only scandal.
Sources: The Ditch, Irish Independent
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