Crowdfunding appeal for wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham's legal action goes through stratosphere

                                             

Chris Packham - thousands of well-wishers

THE fighting fund to pay for a legal action brought by wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham has soared like an eagle - it has now surpassed  six figures.

As of 5pm today, it stood at just over £115,000 from 5,944 donors.

The TV celebrity feels he has had no option but to launch proceedings for defamation in response to allegations by certain fieldsports-supporting media organisations and individuals.

So that he does not end up out-of-pocket, his friend, Ruth Tingay, set up a crowdfunding appeal which has proved hugely successful in attracting money from Chris Packham's thousands of wellwishers.

It was she who, in her blog, provided today’s update.

There are still 12 days to go, but the fund is now inevitably losing momentum.

However, there is likely to be enough to pay a substantial handsome chunk of the legal fees.

Who knows - there could be enough change left over for ice creams all round.

On second thoughts, perhaps not. Top lawyers charge as much as £1,200 an hour

Under an arrangement, which is somewhat 'unusual' (to put it politely), the law firm acting for the broadcaster is understood to have custody of the crowdfunding fees.    

Dr Tingay  has not yet stated how surplus monies (if any) will be re-allocated.

Meanwhile, it is understood that those parties defending the defamation claims are also fundraising, though it has not been revealed how much has been raised.

* For an update from Ruth Tingay, see her informative blog: https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/

The Wryneck says: However strong he believes his claim to be, we adhere to our earlier advice that, having made his grievance abundantly clear, Chris Packham should now let sleeping dogs lie. Even if he were to win, any court case is liable to be ugly - and the ensuing publicity may prove embarrassing (and damaging), not just to the warring parties but also to others involuntarily caught in the crosshairs. Furthermore, the verdict, whoever it favours, will not be the end of the matter. It may bring a temporary truce, but polarities will become more entrenched. Fires - possibly with larger and hotter flames - will almost certainly break out anew.