Scottish MS charity 'should break away from London'

Published on Tuesday 21 April 2009 22:08

MULTIPLE sclerosis campaigners in Scotland should break away from their UK bosses and set up independent branches, the founder of a newly established MS support group in Northern Ireland said last night.

Josie Byrne, former chairwoman of the MS Society Northern Ireland (MSSNI), set up the breakaway Mid Down MS support group in Downpatrick after the society in Northern Ireland experienced problems with the London-based charity's decision-making.

Earlier this month, Harry Potter author JK Rowling quit as patron of the MS Society Scotland.

Her resignation followed an internal row over the way the charity was managed, which led to the board of trustees suspending the powers of the council which runs the Scottish society.

The dispute has led to calls for the charity in Scotland to break away from the UK parent body.

"When I read that JK Rowling had resigned, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up," Ms Byrne said.

"JK Rowling is not the type of lady to court this kind of publicity. She must have been driven to it. It is a sad situation but it vindicated what we have said has been going on in Northern Ireland. I was shocked that the MS Society in London was doing the same thing to Scotland it did to us."

Ms Byrne, who was chairwoman of the MSSNI for more than two years until February 2007, added: "The answer is to go it alone. We are big enough in Northern Ireland and Scotland to run our own societies without being dictated to by London."

The MSSNI's director was dismissed in May 2007. The council of the MSSNI had been suspended by Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the MS Society UK, and Tony Kennan, its chairman.

Later that year, Ms Byrne and others formed their own group, the Mid Down MS Support Group, which now has 90 members.

She said there were plans to set up further groups.

In Scotland, the Caithness branch, which has been at the forefront of the move to break away from the UK body, has written to all 34 branches north of the Border calling for an extraordinary general meeting. Patricia Stanley, Caithness branch chairwoman, said if there was sufficient demand then a motion would be put forward proposing the society in Scotland breaks away from the UK body.

"If what happens in Northern Ireland is successful, it could be a role model for us," she said.

"However, we're not wanting to get into a war of words. If breaking away is in the best interests of MS sufferers then so be it; if staying under the umbrella organisation is the best way, then that's what we will do."

John Ballantyne, MS Society Scotland vice-chairman and chairman of the Dundee branch, said: "Breaking up into smaller blocks will not help find a cure for MS. We have to pool our resources and focus on the future."

Last night, a spokesman for the MS Society said it did not want to comment on the specifics of the dispute with the MSSNI but added: "Josie Byrne was a witness at an industrial tribunal in Northern Ireland involving the MS Society, and her evidence was found to be contradictory and lacking in credibility."

SCOTLAND'S SCOURGE

MULTIPLE Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults.

About 85,000 people in the UK have MS.

In Scotland it is estimated that there are 10,500 people with MS – more people per capita than anywhere else in the world.

MS is the result of damage to myelin – a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission, while for others it has a progressive effect on the body.