Father Bob Maguire slams charity over ‘disgraceful’ termination

Outspoken Father Bob Maguire claims his Melbourne charity has turned ‘treacherous’ after he was stood down as chairman without his knowledge.

Father Bob established the foundation in 2003. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Father Bob Maguire has revealed he was blindsided when he was stood down as chairman of his beloved Melbourne charity.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Father Bob Maguire Foundation board said the priest had voluntarily stepped down from his role and would have “ongoing input into our program and services”.

But the outspoken priest told the Herald Sun on Monday the board went behind his back to push him out.

“It’s nasty … I’ve known these blokes for years but they have turned treacherous,” he said.

“I’m not used to this, we always ran the show as a fighting unit, I’m the commander in chief.”

Father Bob, 88, said he was emailed about his termination last week.

“It’s all a bloody mess,” he said.

“We’re hurt but we aren’t out.”

Father Bob Maguire claims he was stood down from his charity without his knowledge. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It comes as allegations surfaced online that Father Bob was being held in an aged care facility and denied visitors.

“He’s been removed as chair of his foundation, he has been put in respite and his friends are not allowed to visit him,” Maureen Doyle wrote on Twitter.

The Herald Sun understands the restriction on visitors to the facility has been imposed by Father Bob’s family.

His advocate, Sally Millard, said no reason was given for his termination from the charity he established in 2003.

“This is just all a disgraceful act by the foundation, by people of his own,” she said.

“They’ve always considered him a thorn in their side, they never liked the way he does things, he operates under his own rules.”

The well-known Melbourne charity provides food relief, social inclusion and educational support.

In the official statement published on the charity’s website on April 14, the board said the foundation’s administrative staff had been made redundant.

“As part of the restructuring, the existing administrative staff of the foundation have been made redundant effective immediately,” it read.

“We will also need to move from the current premises.

“These two steps will provide significant savings for the foundation and enable most of our resources to be spent on the people who need the help.

“Father Bob’s commitment to the “outsiders” as he calls them has been inspirational over many decades. As well as the work he has done personally over all these years he has encouraged and supported many other individuals and organisations to take up similar roles.

“His focus on those most disadvantaged and alienated in our society will be continued by the Foundation. He has been and will continue to be our inspiration.”

The day before the statement was published, Father Bob posted a video on Twitter in which he said he would be leaving the facility “very very soon” and would return to the foundation’s premise in Albert Park.

“I want you all to feel reassured that your being there has been absolutely essential to make sure that I stay on the right track,” he said.

Father Bob Maguire Foundation was contacted for comment.