Should Girlguiding Scotland accept this mans money?

[barney15c]

Convicted Child abuser Reginald Forester-Smith has left £400,000 to Girlguiding Scotland as well as sizeable legacies to Cancer Research and McMillan Nurses. He was sentenced to 8 years. GS are naturally being very guarded as to whether they will be accepting the money. Should they accept the money and come clean about it or should they refuse it as it would be hypocritical to accept the money from this individual which is at completely at odds with the ideals of this organisation?

http://news.bbc.co.uk..._scotland/8615175.stm

[jackthehat]

My immediate response it that they ought to accept it.
I know that mere money can never compensate for what he did, but such a substantial amount ought to be able to do a great deal of good if it is channelled in the right direction.

*I revise the right to revise my opinion should someone come along with a more cogent argument as to why it should be refused*

[Androcles]

I understand where you are coming from, but he did this in memory of his wife, who would appear to ha ve done nobody any harm. Also if he had a pang of conscience and decided to try and leave one good thing behind him after all the harm he had done, no-one can complain about that. What harm can he do now he is dead?

They should take it and do some good work preparing girsl to deal with characters like him!

[janbee]

Definitely take the money. It's not being hypocritical.

[jackthehat]

yeah !

What they ^^^ said ! :o)

[IggyB]

why would you not accept the money - i don't get it? If he was alive I could understand it but the guys dead - he isn't going to do anymore harm to anyone but his money could do some good!

[karenmac60]

Did he make the money from peddling child porn? If not then they should take it and use it to do some good - what's hypocritical about that?

[distcomm]

As a guider I would not be happy for this money to be accepted. It is totally at odds with the work we do with the girls. The money should be refused and put to better use helping men NOT to abuse children.

[IggyB]

helping men not abuse children??? Distcomm - what help exactly are you thinking of - maybe a leaflet of some kind?