This blog is dedicated to Lyra McKee, whom I first met some years ago. I think that she would have enjoyed this.

The Goliath Trust was set up in August 2018. 

Its objective is “to raise funds to provide targeted extra financial support for schools serving disadvantaged communities in order that educational outcomes in those schools are significantly improved”.

A laudable objective, you might think.

One of its Directors is Jackie Redpath , who administers a budget of £1.8 million , employing 60 staff , at what, it is not immediately apparent. Perhaps those who failed to get a good education in the Shankill. He  has remarked that there had been twenty initiatives on the Shankill, not one making any difference.

Another Director is Dr Alasdair  McDonnell, who was on one occasion , interviewed by police on foot of the Hart Inquiry.

So, how is Goliath shaping up? Its  managing director , Caroline McNeill, didn’t last too long, resigning sometime in the last year.

She was a SpAd to McDonnell when he was an MP.

Described as a “high flying barrister and political adviser” she married Ryan Feeney, a significant figure in the GAA, at a  society wedding attended by George Hamilton, among others.

 Ray Hayden is also a Director. That means that two thirds of the PR Agency, Upton Public Affairs Ltd ,are represented on the board. Only Danny de Burgh Kinahan, who owns a million pound pile in Templepatrick, is missing.

Other directors are, according to their website:

Rt Rev Alan Abernethy
Mr David Campbell
Prof. Peter Finn
Father Gerard Fox
Mr Ray Hayden
Rt Rev Norman Hamilton
Mr John McCaffrey
Ms Deirdre McDonald
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Rev Dr Frederick Munce
Mr Jackie Redpath

Goliath filed accounts for the period 25^th August 2017 to 31^st August 2018.

Bear in mind that Goliath held a fund raising “Gala Dinner” on 11^thApril 2018.

They stated that “All proceeds from the Gala will go to support our 12 Goliath schools” 

The Great and the Good were involved. Senator Mitchell, that MI5/NIO operator was the guest speaker. Lots of other names were bandied about.

Bill and Hilary Clinton, Blair, Ahern, Trimble, Paisley, May Blood, Monica McWilliams and Stephen Nolan. It was a £1,000 per table event. Five hundred people attended.

You might think , Dear Reader , that the objective of a million pounds for our worthy schools would have been achieved overnight.

The facts are somewhat different. Income  for the year was £92,723. They spent £81,100 , half of it on wages and £25,471 on “fund raising expenses”.

The bottom line is that they had a balance of £8,623 at the end of the year.

I can find no evidence of money being spent on the education of these 12 schools, save perhaps for an item described as “charitable activities programme costs” spend of £5,000.

So, if you bought a fund raising table at £1,000 at the gala, at the most, £50 may have got to a school.

The other ominous fact seems to be that billionaires like the Clintons and Blair have not put their hands in their pockets.

So, what are these Toffs achieving? 

The answer seems to be precious little. I’ve asked them for a response, let’s see.

Lyra McKee and I attended disadvantaged primary schools. Hers is closed. Mine , Forth River, is one of the 12.

“All proceeds” certainly did not go to these schools.

The fight goes on….