Should This Woman's Kindness Be Repaid?

[agchristie]

How would you like to see this matter resolved?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/alan-barnes-disabled-pensioner-10-pounds-katie-cutler-pr-bill-claire-barnes-mugged-a7311751.html#

[hc4361]

It's nothing to do with Mr Barnes. Ms Cutler engaged the PR company after the fund raising campaign to raise her own profile.

[naomi24]

How swiftly the restoration of one’s faith in human nature is once again destroyed.

[Smowball]

I know he's not legally responsible but surely he has a conscience? If it wasn't for her he wouldn't have any of that money! To offer her £10 is an insult.

[Cloverjo]

I think Mr Barnes should at least pay half of the bill, in gratitude for what Katie did, and hope that another fundraising campaign can raise the rest. But don't hire Claire Barnes to run it.

He got an awful lot of money, so perhaps he could pay it all.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh what a shame and very tangled isn't it - should he? Ought he?

I really don't know but the above article by AgC seems to imply he should contribute more.

I believe the PR is also Ms Barber not 'Barnes'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-37361688

[hc4361]

People donated money to Mr. Barnes, not to pay Ms Cutler's PR bill.

She didn't hire the PR company to help her fund raising campaign but to promote herself when she had dropped out of the media spotlight.

[naomi24]

hc4361, does it matter? One good turn ... and all that.

[hc4361]

naomi, do you remember the backlash the McCann's got because they were using some of the donated money for living expenses?

Ms Cutler had no need to hire a PR company and I would not like any money I donated to Mr Barnes to be used to pay off her debts.

[Jackdaw33]

That's my thinking, Naomi. £330K - £6K still leaves £324K, £324K more than he would have had if it were not for Ms Cutler.

[hc4361]

How long should he be responsible for her debts?

[naomi24]

hc4361, if I were in his situation I wouldn't hesitate to solve her problem... but then I'm me and you're you.

[Mamyalynne]

I know what I would do in his situation and that is to pay off the bill,that's my nature - but it's not for me to comment on what anyone else should do.

What if next year the young lady has a new financial crisis, will the press be asking him how much he's coughing up again?

[hc4361]

It seems Ms Cutler agrees with me

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3792602/Disabled-mugging-victim-Alan-Barnes-stumps-just-TENNER-woman-raised-333-000-buy-new-house-threatened-bailiffs-7-000-debt-doesn-t-want-money.html

[hc4361]

Apparently she raised £330k and Mr Barnes accepted £150k, so he didn't grab the lot, which he could have done

[naomi24]

hc4361, of course she agrees with you. Still doesn't make his reluctance to help her right.

[hc4361]

What did she do with the other £180k? Why did she hire a company at £550 a day?

[naomi24]

hc4361, //What did she do with the other £180k?//

I have no idea. You tell me.

[Smowball]

She divided it between various charities and didn't take a penny .

[mikey4444]

I remember this story from last year. What a wonderful lady.