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Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral (PJGA)
was set up by a group of his friends on
1 November, 2009, in response to the
decision by Gerry & Kate McCann to take
legal action against Gonçalo Amaral and
others.
The McCanns sought not only to suspend
sales of the book “Maddie: A Verdade da
Mentira”, but to demand the sum of €1,2
million from Dr. Amaral.
A second injunction succeeded in
freezing Dr. Amaral's assets and income,
denying him the opportunity to defend
himself in court.
On 20 November 2009, a defence fund was
launched. Its purpose was to help enable
Dr. Amaral to fight the legal action
that was brought against him by the
McCanns.
The fund has remained at all times
independent of Dr Amaral. It is beyond
reach of any compensation claim. Any
funds remaining after all legal expenses
are met are to be donated to a
Portuguese children's charity.
In April 2015, as the legal action
dragged on and costs were becoming
difficult to handle, an approach was
made to the friends who created PJGA,
suggesting that a GoFundMe page be
launched to generate additional funds.
PJGA cooperated with Leanne Baulch, who
fronted this part of the appeal, to
bring this to being on 29 April 2015.
Let us be clear: all donations made to
the GoFundMe page, minus the commission
deducted automatically by GoFundMe, were
paid directly into the one bank account
that has been held by friends of Dr
Amaral since PJGA was created.
Leanne, having successfully promoted the
GoFundMe page, handed over its control
to the group of friends who coordinate
PJGA, for personal reasons that are
unrelated to the legal action. We are
hugely grateful for her initiative.
On 21 October 2015, when it was
considered that sufficient funds had
been raised, it was decided the GoFundMe
page would be closed on 28 October 2015.
The fund has been able to support Dr
Amaral in his successful appeal against
the McCanns' actions and at this moment
contains adequate funds for a sound
legal defence should the case be brought
to Supreme Court. PJGA will continue to
support Dr Amaral's legal costs should
this happen. The PJGA legal defence fund
remains open.
For the purpose of clarity, the
suggestions of impropriety by anyone
connected with the defence fund are
false.
The group of friends and Mr Amaral
himself remain eternally grateful for
your support in allowing a man to defend
himself in court and for justice to
prevail.
We will endeavour to keep you informed
as and when we receive further
information regarding the re-appeal. |
