Animal charity Blue Cross has slammed The Sunday Telegraph for its coverage of the suicide of a former employee, after the paper alleged she had relationships with both the charity’s chief executive and its director of fundraising.

In a statement on its website this week, Zair Berry, chair of Blue Cross, said: “It is completely inappropriate that The Sunday Telegraph has chosen to publish speculative allegations on the events surrounding the tragic and untimely death of one of our employees, Melanie Brown, which is still the subject of a coroner’s investigation. Our thoughts continue to be with Melanie’s family and all her friends and colleagues who still miss her very much.

“As required by law, neither Blue Cross nor our CEO, Kim Hamilton, can comment on these matters until the inquest has been concluded but we will be cooperating fully with the investigation.

“Mike Crossley, a former Blue Cross senior employee, left the charity in 2012 for purely performance-related reasons. This issue had the board of trustees’ full support and was based upon a sound business decision and legal advice.”

In response to The Sunday Telegraph’s allegations, Crossley, now director of fundraising at the Marine Conservation Society, told civilsociety.co.uk:

“The Telegraph (and subsequent Daily Mail) article was unsolicited, unexpected and unwelcome. It is also inaccurate with regards to many facts and figures, so has done no favours to anyone, least of all anyone working hard for a charity.

“My primary concern is protecting the young lady’s family, and her mother especially, from further pain. I have nothing further to add.”

Eight months after Crossley left Blue Cross, Melanie Brown committed suicide. There is no suggestion that her alleged relationships with Hamilton and Crossley were in any way linked to her suicide.

A note in Blue Cross’ most recent annual accounts states: “One employee who is no longer employed by Blue Cross received £174,233 during the course of the year.”

Brown, originally from Wokingham, Berks, was found hanged at her flat in Cirencester, Glos, last August. An inquest into her death is due to be held later this year.