Article 13 The official custodian for charities in Northern Ireland

There shall be an officer to be known as the official custodian for charities in Northern Ireland (in this Order referred to as “the official custodian”) whose function it shall be to act as trustee for charities in the cases provided for by this Order; and the official custodian shall be by that name a corporation sole having perpetual succession and using an official seal which shall be officially and judicially noticed.

Such individual as the Commission may designate shall be the official custodian.

The official custodian shall perform his duties in accordance with such general or special directions as may be given him by the Commission, and his expenses (except those re-imbursed to him or recovered by him as trustee for any charity) shall be defrayed by the Commission.

Anything which is required to or may be done by, to or before the official custodian may be done by, to or before any member of staff of the Commission generally or specially authorised by it to act for him during a vacancy in his office or otherwise.

The official custodian shall not be liable as trustee for any charity in respect of any loss or of the mis-application of any property unless it is occasioned by or through the wilful neglect or default of the custodian or of any person acting for him; but the Commission shall be liable to make good to a charity any sums for which the custodian may be liable by reason of any such neglect or default.

The official custodian shall keep such books of account and such records in relation thereto as may be directed by the Department and shall prepare accounts in such form, in such manner and at such times as may be so directed.

The accounts so prepared shall be examined and certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The Comptroller and Auditor General shall send to the Commission a copy of the accounts as certified by him together with his report on them.

The Commission shall publish and lay before the Assembly a copy of the documents sent to it under paragraph (8).