Fintan, the performer

[Eric V]

All teh best, Fintan. And I sincerely hope you don't go gettin yerself in trouble.

[LostFishManHeadingHome]

S.O.S

[Mick Molloy]

A friend of mine went to Dublin and made this picture

How funny is this???

[philipchevron]

A friend of mine went to Dublin and made this picture

How funny is this???

It's the Tart with the Cart! Otherwise known as Craig The Fish. The statue is Molly Malone. The location is Grafton Street at the Trinity College corner.

[maureen]

The area looks unnaturally empty

[NewJerseyRich]

Ahh man I wish I could do what Craig's doing. I envy you buddy.

[CraigsFriend]

My name is Elke and I'm writing to you today as a close friend to seek help for Craig. I guess it's fair to say that the situation with Craig has become so desperate, that it's now time to drop the smoke screens and mirrors and come out.

Craig, when you see this, I hope you'll forgive me, or understand. It's the sheer desperation.

People, you may have come to befriend a jolly, quick-tongued fellow in him on here. The sad truth is that Craig is getting himself increasingly into more and more trouble. He's not all he's making out to be, and there have been some royal stuff-ups with him. I'm not a character assassin, but for those who know him, like him, and can witness this from close quarters, the last year in particular has been truly frightening. He is deteriorating. The trip, fundraising for his dream, it was a catastrophic idea from the outset, and there would be many people in his environment here who wholeheartedly agree.

Craig talks a good talk, so I wasn't all surprised when he managed to get his ticket together. But to cut a long story short. People, he's stuck in Dublin. He needs a single fare out of there SOON, and get himself back to Australia. Back to family, friends, and treatment. It's now or never, do or die for him. We tried all avenues, Consulate, airlines - all trying to rectify things, to no or little avail.

I implore you to help. This is not a scam, a lie, or anything like that. I would never do anything like this - to approach people in this matter, but he told me how much support he'd been receiving on here, so I dropped my reservation to post to you today.

This isn't an attack on him either - it's nothing but care, worry, sorrow and friendship to get this guy we love out of there (as a priority), and hopefully back on his feet from thereon in. With him being 16000km away, not knowing where he is for days on end, I can't do much for him until he steps off the plane in Sydney. He can get so much help once he gets here though and in my opinion he is now ready to seek and accept this help.

Please if you can help in any way, let me know. I'm in touch with his family (and very sporadically Craig himself but this one here would be news to him). It's got to be the crappiest year (outside 1929) to pick to get yourself into a situation like this - everybody is struggling to make ends meet at the moment, I know. But if you can do anything at all, please get in touch with me. The fare is around 830 Euros, and we haven't gotten very far with it yet.

I'm happy to talk to anyone willing, preferably offline (e.watson68 [at] gmail.com). I would like to ask you not to make matters worse with him. "I told you so's" won't do any good. Just get in touch with me.

And to Craig if you read this: please don't judge me for having posted this. Try to read and understand why I'm doing this. We just want you to come home, need you to, squirrel.....Glsnv. xxx

[soulfinger]

He needs a single fare out of there SOON, and get himself back to Australia. Back to family, friends, and treatment. It's now or never, do or die for him.

OK. It's rarely this quiet round here. Presumably no-one knows quite what to say because what you have written is implying some fairly stark stuff.

In spite of my natural tendency towards cynicism, I'm taking you at face value.

I met the man last time he was in Dublin and I liked him a lot then. I disapproved entirely of his slaughtering of Irish Rover and his subsequent asking for financial help to get to Ireland; but said nowt other than to privately encourage him not to jump overboard. I make donations to cancer charities as a rule for personal reasons. I can cope with diverting my next payment to an individual in difficulties. I can make a small contribution towards getting Craig back home. It won't be a lot as I have bills, a mortgage and costly offspring.

If Craig's in genuine strife and getting home's what he wants, please PM me with details of Paypal or whatever other arrangements you have in place to make this happen.

[NewJerseyRich]

I was waiting for this person that posted to answer my email before posting. I understand a few people have emailed them as to better understand the situation. If it takes a few more euros to get him home I'd be glad to donate some but I would like to see what comes from the friends email and some answers first.


Also, Craig made a few quips on FB but hasn't replied to any of my messages there either.

[jennylois]

Sorry Craig, due to your past bullshit I cannot find it in my heart to believe this. It feels sad to think that people like soulfinger who have their own struggles are giving to this 'cause''.

I wonder what you'll come up with next Craig.

[NewJerseyRich]

Jenny, surely everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. I'm always a bit of a skepitic too but lets at least see where this goes.

[soulfinger]

people like soulfinger who have their own struggles are giving to this 'cause''.

Definitely not struggles....I prefer to think of them as priorities.

[CraigFriend]

Hey all, Elke again

Jenny - if you can re-read my initial missive, this is totally off my own bat (pardon the pun). Craig knew nothing of this before, as a matter of fact it was written yesterday at the height of desperation and completely spontaneously, and I don't think he knows now/yet. He didn't instigate this either, just to preempt. This being easily construed as 'airing dirty laundry', I'm not even going to think right now what his reaction TO ME will be when he gets back on this forum and discussion thread and reads all this.

I hope that some of the behaviour of his shown on here, recent events that are now being discussed, serves as a further 'proof' to what I've reported.

It's completely out of character for me to ask for help, especially in a forum that I don't use, but I also know that a few of you know him/ have met him/ have a lot of time for him.

The rest of you, please don't exacerbate the situation. Off-line I might well agree a lot. But my sole priority right now is to help get him out of there and whatever else needs to happen next. I'm not interested in defending his escapades on here at the moment, rebuild any bridges he may have blown to smithereens, or engage into any sort of online bickering. I just want him helped because I know he wants to come home and right a few wrongs.

And right now, I'm happy to explore any avenues.

There will be a PayPal account, looked after by his mum and it will be this Account that we're collecting money for Craig's airfare, not his own personal one. I should have the details tomorrow.

[Fr. McGreer]

Hi Elke,

I have e-mailed you, no reply yet. Did you get it?

[jennylois]

this is totally off my own bat (pardon the pun)

And this isn't Craig?

Also I was suspicious to read the initial letter by Elke where she said 'this isn't a scam' which were very similar words Craig himself used when he was asking for money to go over there. And also the user name sounds like the names Craig uses.

Well as I said, I'm sorry that I have no sympathy here, and yes I feel guilty that I don't, but I just don't. Maybe Craig could just wait it out until he gets deported?