By: Michael O’Farrell
Investigations Editor
A TOP banker has resigned from the board of Goal International in the wake of the continuing fallout from a US investigation into aid irregularities in Syria.
Andrew Godson resigned on September 6 – bringing to three the number of high-profile figures who have departed. This week it emerged that Goal CEO Barry Andrews – the former Fianna Fáil minister – resigned in August.
His number two, Jonathan Edgar, stepped down in September. An Irish Mail on Sunday investigation in May found that Mr Godson’s twin – Jonathan Godson – was a shareholder of a firm at the centre of the controversy.
That firm, Noble House, is the focus of the continuing USAID investigation into alleged bribery and bid-rigging relating to procuring aid in Turkey for delivery to Syria.
Andrew Godson was appointed to the UK board of Goal in July 2013 within days of Noble House being incorporated with Jonathan Godson as a shareholder.
In May, the MoS revealed how Noble House had been established by three Goal insiders – who planned to do business with Goal – despite the apparent conflicts of interest. Goal was not aware of the involvement of its staff in these firms and made it clear the arrangement was not acceptable when it found out. Mr Edgar severed his ties with Noble House and continued working with Goal while the others chose to leave to pursue their new business.
le ne business. After a self-imposed, 12-month cooling-off period relating to Noble House, Goal then began paying individuals and entities associated with the company.
The Noble House arrangement became part of USAID’s probe. In May, the MoS asked Andrew Godson if there was any link between his appointment to the UK board of Goal and the incorporation of Noble House with his brother as a shareholder.
He said his role on the board was ‘voluntary and ‘focused on ensuring the governance… of Goal UK.
‘As a Director of Goal UK I do not have oversight of programme management or procurement. Goal [Ireland] are responsible for the direct management of all humanitarian and development operations. All relevant interests were properly declared,’ he said.
