Let's be honest here, the following list of names leaves one with an urge to cleanse the fingertips after tapping the letters to their names on the beautiful lily white pages of our blog; Tony Bennett, David Steel, Robert Guest...urghh, I can type no more. Instead let's pop a few adjectives up to describe these aforementioned characters: Disruptive, meddlesome, desperate, lonely, sad, interfering, jealous, cruel, childish, cowardly...should we continue? Ok, maybe just a few more; perverse, untrustworthy, underhanded, duplicitous... We could be here all day, but let's discuss one of the reasons why these words fit so perfectly.
I am of course talking about the pathetic attempts of the people mentioned, to bring the PJGA fund - set up to provide money to pay for Goncalo Amaral's legal fees, into disrepute. Not only have these people attempted to damage the fund, they have also sought to damage the reputations of those involved.
PJGA, or Projecto Justica Goncalo Amaral, started a fund in 2009 in order to assist Goncalo Amaral with legal costs in what would prove to be a long running series of court cases between himself, and the claimants, Kate and Gerry McCann.
For those who are unaware, the PJGA consist of a small, tightly knit, group of close friends to Snr Amaral. Not only have they helped raise money to aid Goncalo Amaral, they have also helped support him on a personal level. Goncalo Amaral has had to endure attacks and smears from the press, the McCanns and their vehement supporters for years, it goes without saying that his friends have more than proved their worth to him over these testing times.
Following Goncalo Amaral's loss to the McCanns in 2015, it became apparent that a costly appeal would be the next option for Goncalo, should he wish to clear his name.
It was at this point, April 29 2015, and after discussions with the PJGA, that a young lady with a big heart stepped forward, and despite many warning her of their concerns for her safety and well being, decided to go ahead and front a gofundme campaign that hoped to raise the figure necessary to aid Snr Amaral's legal fees. That young lady was Leanne Baulch and she deserves full credit for doing what many would have backed away from. Leanne endured some of the most grotesque attacks from some sick individuals, people who should hang their heads in shame, though of course they won't.
With the backing of thousands of people, outraged at the result of the court case, the fund progressed to exceed all expectations. Money poured in from all corners of the globe. Not only would the money assist Goncalo Amaral, but it's momentum also buoyed his supporters.
Of course, as expected, along with the success came a darker side. A very small number of spiteful people set out to bring down the fund. Donations were made, then withdrawn in an attempt to close the fund altogether. That tactic worked momentarily. Gofundme froze the campaign and investigated it's authenticity fully. Investigation complete, and finding no misdemeanours whatsoever, the fund was back, up, running, and gathering pace.
After that came persistent, public questions, from one person, as to how the fund operated. The questions were answered, but either the person asking had a severely bad memory due to perhaps a drink habit, maybe was innately stupid, got off on bullying and intimidating, didn't want the fund to succeed, or perhaps all of those things. Had the pathetic little man really cared for the truth, he could have done his own research. Thus:
The following facts were gained using information easily available to everybody on the internet. Why, even the village idiot could find the answers out, if of course it was answers they sought. In fact it was whilst discussing a village idiot, we came up with this simple idea. We shall call our village idiot Dave.
Hi Dave.
Yep that's right Dave is totally and utterly wrong. How do we know this? Simple. You see Dave, old buddy, old pal. This is how gofundme work. Pay very close attention, we shall say this only once.
Simple enough for you? Bullet points needed? Ok.
- Leanne set up a gofundme account giving the PJGAs Portuguese bank account details.
- People donated to the fund.
- All monies sent, went to a Stripe account.
- Every 7 days, the Stripe account sends money to the nominated account ie. the PJGAs.
- Money was continually sent on a rolling basis.
Still believe that a UK bank account was used?
Oh good, we love showing you up.
Here are some more graphics, proving beyond any doubt, that sending money direct to Portugal, via Stripe, and with no UK account, is very simple. Oh, and keep reading, because at the bottom will be a link to the PJGA website, confirming all that you are being told. Oh btw, you spilt a bit on your bib, I'll just pop that back on the spoon for you...open wide...
You see that country in the little red box. That says Portugal. Oh and the page we found it on, check out the URL, it says; https://support.stripe.com/questions/what-countries-does-stripe-support. You can click it if you want, and check yourself. Go ahead, try it...
Next spoonful?
Here we have a screenshot taken from the following page https://support.stripe.com/questions/bank-account-and-transfers#first-transfer
Again, you can click on that and check, if you wish.What this screenshot shows, is that as explained in bullet points 4 and 5, the money is sent from the Stripe account on a rolling 7 day basis. Sorry to disappoint you, but no hands are, would, or indeed could touch the money.
Train goes into the...station.
Here we have another picture for you to look at. Exciting! This one proves once again, that Stripe is supported in Portugal. See the red writing, see the red lines...chooo chooo!
https://support.stripe.com/questions/what-countries-does-stripe-support
Car goes into the...garage!
Now this little gem above, shows all the currencies that the UK Stripe account can accept. The clever thing. Vrooom!
One more mouthful? How about a little bit of drop down box pie.
One more mouthful? How about a little bit of drop down box pie.
There's a good lad. So now you can see that there was really no need whatsoever for Leanne, or anybody to have had a UK bank account, or a signatory bank account, or indeed a piggy bank. People simply donated, and after seven days, the money went straight to Portugal, without touching a single British hand. I know, it's quite something.
Oh, but you want pudding? You'll get chubby dear heart.
So Dave, we've proved to you that money can be sent direct from Stripe (the merchant used by gofundme), to Portugal. You're not just having that though are you? Noooo. You're a big bad troll, yes you are, and you want more proof it went straight to Portugal. Well ok, but we really are spoiling you...
Get your pinky out and trace the following words; taken directly from the PJGAs own website.
"Dear friends,
Just a short note to clarify that donations that have been received via the GoFundMe page which was set up by Leanne Baulch have been received directly - and continue to be received directly - into the BPI bank account that Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral has used since 2009 to channel support towards Mr Amaral's defence costs."
That there isn't just evidence Dave, it's an all singing, all dancing, cotton picking confession, yes siree!
Why the hell should the PJGA reveal how much Goncalo Amaral's legal fees are, at this stage, if at all?
Oh, before we sign off, you will, no doubt be wanting proof of one more thing. That the money that is sent to the PJGA will actually be used for Goncalo Amaral's legal fees. Well, I suggest you click on the following link http://pjga.blogspot.co.uk/ and scroll down to April 2015, then steadily work your way to the present day. Read, learn, and educate yourself. Take in the many updates from the PJGA, from Goncalo Amaral himself, and if you're still not satisfied, ask yourself this:
If this fund had been in any way untoward, and with reports of it all over the papers, not only in this country, but Portugal too. Do you not think Goncalo Amaral would have asked where the money was?
If you have any further questions, you could try feeding yourself, after all, you're a erm, well, you're a big boy now, aren't you?
Fees, and other questions answered right here, go ahead Dave, give it a click
All of the above, you could have researched yourself. Give it up Dave, stop being a dick, make some real friends, get out in the real world..."Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life." John Hodge.
There's a world beyond the internet, holidays that aren't simply google images, real people with real lives, the ones you choose to try and destroy. Sort it out, or forever be known as that, lonely, sad dick from twitter...
Disclaimer. The character "Dave" is a generalisation of those who seek to cause unrest, and harm to the fund, and the people involved therein. Any resemblance to real life persons is purely coincidental.
