Is He Stupid Or Trying It On To Make A Few Quid.

[webbo3]

http://news.sky.com/story/1622503/aid-worker-says-bid-to-smuggle-girl-irrational

Im not sure if this chap is stupid or trying it on, he said he was bringing items back that were not required by the migrants in the camp and two men managed to hide in the back of his van, no im pretty sure if two chaps got in the back of my van i would notice, did he intend to take the little girl and thought ill make a few quid by bringing this two men back to make up for my troubles.?




Dave.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //I watched him speaking television last night when he said something like “Compassion was on trial here”. Wrong. He was on trial for breaking the law – and the law proved itself, yet again, to be an ass by setting what is likely to become a self-defeating precedent. //

I agree entirely with your assessment - this man continues to fail to see that his own inappropriate emotional involvement in this situation has created a difficult situation for everyone else involved in the work he is doing.

No-one should allow their emotions to try and justify breaking the law - quite apart from the emotional impact on this poor child who has suffered separation from her father, possibly permanent, only then to be returned from whence she started.

I think this man should be prevented from continuing this type of humanitarian support - he is clearly emotionally unsuitable, and lacks the ability to distance himself from the situation in order to offer proper support.

[viv41]

I'm on his side, I believe he was ruled by compassion for a small child. He was interviewed on TV recently and he said it had broken up his marriage. Misguided yes, but compassionate definitely.

[andy-hughes]

viv - //I'm on his side, I believe he was ruled by compassion for a small child. He was interviewed on TV recently and he said it had broken up his marriage. Misguided yes, but compassionate definitely. //

You'd need a heart of stone not to sympathise with this man's motives, but that does not make his actions either appropriate, or the best for the people involved - clearly they were neither.

[webbo3]

Thanks for all your answers, but, the big question is did he know the two Eritrean men were in the back of the van or did he take payment and think that will cover the costs of bringing the little girl back.

And maybe he would have brought the little girls family over at a later date if he had got away with it.

As for a punishment, a hefty fine and ban him from being within 50 miles of Calais on French soil.


Dave.

[-Talbot-]

viv41
I'm on his side, I believe he was ruled by compassion for a small child. He was interviewed on TV recently and he said it had broken up his marriage. Misguided yes, but compassionate definitely.


Was she the only child in the camp?
If she was fair play but if not ........

[viv41]

I have NO idea. Like I said he was misguided, but compassionate. I feel sorry for him.

[Baldric]

He tried to smuggle a young girl plus two Eritrean men, who could in reality have been the payload, into the UK.
He is by his own admission an active supporter of refugees and deserves everything he gets imo.

[viv41]

Well he only got a suspended fine so did quite well really.

[Svejk]

///and deserves everything he gets imo.///

He's already had it, balders. Nothing.

[Baldric]

Svejk @ 1245,
didn't see that in the link, if that's the case he deserves a lot more than he got.

[Ric.ror]

Sorry - perhaps its too much media exposure over Yewtree etc but something feels not quite right to me

[andy-hughes]

Ric.roar - //Sorry - perhaps its too much media exposure over Yewtree etc but something feels not quite right to me //

It has not occured to me that the situation is anything other than the way it has been desribed in the media - they would have dug enough to find anything sinister - if details were there to be found.