The Grieve Family Fire Relief Fund
Donation protected
Hello Everyone,
For those who don’t already know me, my name is Michael Grieve and I am a 47 year old British Citizen from the North East of England. I have my own graphic design business and I’m a dad to a gorgeous eight year-old daughter. My second wife, Athena, is South African.
At 2:12am On 13th March, a fire broke out at my former family home in North East England. A neighbour’s frantic text awoke me at 6am alerting me to the kind of news that no-one wants to hear. A swift call to the police and fire brigade confirmed my worst fears. Fortunately, no-one was hurt in the blaze. Three fire engines, numerous police cars and a full forensic team decked out in hazard suits had nevertheless descended upon my home – it had not only caught fire, but had also been turned into an illegal cannabis farm. As the police investigation progresses and further evidence comes to light, we have been horrified to discover that it is almost certain that illegal Vietnamese immigrants – very likely the victims of human trafficking - had been staffing the farm.
Police have now estimated that the total value of just ONE harvest would have been worth over £250,000. Almost every room in the house had been cleared to make room for the crop, even including the room which used to be my baby daughter’s bedroom. The tenants who signed the original tenancy agreement now cannot be found. We are trusting in the police do their job as investigations are still ongoing and we remain confident that those responsible will be apprehended.
As many of you know, Athena and I have been stuck in the Republic of Ireland for well over a year. Athena's Spousal Visa has been refused without anything, so far, by way of a valid reason or explanation. It is extremely distressing and also baffling as we are certain that we met all necessary criteria and supplied all required documentation.
However, we now have the chance to fight the very odd decision made by the Home Office at a Tribunal.
We are sure that this refusal has been unjustly issued and feel confident that, with your help, we will be able to win this case, and start taking steps to overcome the tragedy which has befallen us.
The Grieve Family Fire Relief Fund has therefore been created to help overcome the restrictions imposed upon us, to help foot the bill for the considerable debts which have accumulated as a result of not being able to get back into my own country and to help us recover from the catastrophic damage inflicted upon our once beautiful home.
THE FINANCIAL COST ACCRUED DUE TO ME NOT BEING ALLOWED BACK IN MY OWN COUNTRY :
Money wasted on having to stay in BnB’s and hostels whilst we have been stuck in Ireland, items stolen from house, personal items damaged in house, damage to property, money for appeal and court legal fees, Mortgage Arrears, Visa fees, Auction fees and helping save my failing business
TOTAL (approximate) £74,500
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
No one deserves to go through anything like this. As a hard-working, law-abiding British Citizen, a father, a husband and a friend to many of you, I am asking for your help. You can be instrumental in helping us rebuild a better life from this mess after the government and the Home Office have turned their backs on us. To lose your home, your business and then be forced to choose between being with your wife or your daughter is an utterly unacceptable and heartbreaking predicament to be placed in. With your help, we have a chance of turning things around.
For as little as £10 (the price of a couple of pints of beer or a takeaway), you can play a valuable and greatly appreciated part in our journey home, our fight for justice and reuniting our fractured family. Any donations will be greatly welcome, yet even if you are unable to donate please at least share our campaign to as many people as you can. We are hoping to reach as many as possible to highlight not only our plight but also that of the many others who have had their lives blighted by this country’s incongruous stance on immigration.
The money will be used for :
Legal fees (which we will need to attend the tribunal court hearing), paying for all the damage that was left behind in my family home, replacing stolen and damaged possessions, auction fees, funds to show the Home Office we are able to support ourselves in the UK, and finally something to help us find new employment and a new place to call home once we return.
Thank you - we really appreciate any help you can give us.
For those who don’t already know me, my name is Michael Grieve and I am a 47 year old British Citizen from the North East of England. I have my own graphic design business and I’m a dad to a gorgeous eight year-old daughter. My second wife, Athena, is South African.
At 2:12am On 13th March, a fire broke out at my former family home in North East England. A neighbour’s frantic text awoke me at 6am alerting me to the kind of news that no-one wants to hear. A swift call to the police and fire brigade confirmed my worst fears. Fortunately, no-one was hurt in the blaze. Three fire engines, numerous police cars and a full forensic team decked out in hazard suits had nevertheless descended upon my home – it had not only caught fire, but had also been turned into an illegal cannabis farm. As the police investigation progresses and further evidence comes to light, we have been horrified to discover that it is almost certain that illegal Vietnamese immigrants – very likely the victims of human trafficking - had been staffing the farm.
Police have now estimated that the total value of just ONE harvest would have been worth over £250,000. Almost every room in the house had been cleared to make room for the crop, even including the room which used to be my baby daughter’s bedroom. The tenants who signed the original tenancy agreement now cannot be found. We are trusting in the police do their job as investigations are still ongoing and we remain confident that those responsible will be apprehended.
As many of you know, Athena and I have been stuck in the Republic of Ireland for well over a year. Athena's Spousal Visa has been refused without anything, so far, by way of a valid reason or explanation. It is extremely distressing and also baffling as we are certain that we met all necessary criteria and supplied all required documentation.
However, we now have the chance to fight the very odd decision made by the Home Office at a Tribunal.
We are sure that this refusal has been unjustly issued and feel confident that, with your help, we will be able to win this case, and start taking steps to overcome the tragedy which has befallen us.
The Grieve Family Fire Relief Fund has therefore been created to help overcome the restrictions imposed upon us, to help foot the bill for the considerable debts which have accumulated as a result of not being able to get back into my own country and to help us recover from the catastrophic damage inflicted upon our once beautiful home.
THE FINANCIAL COST ACCRUED DUE TO ME NOT BEING ALLOWED BACK IN MY OWN COUNTRY :
Money wasted on having to stay in BnB’s and hostels whilst we have been stuck in Ireland, items stolen from house, personal items damaged in house, damage to property, money for appeal and court legal fees, Mortgage Arrears, Visa fees, Auction fees and helping save my failing business
TOTAL (approximate) £74,500
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
No one deserves to go through anything like this. As a hard-working, law-abiding British Citizen, a father, a husband and a friend to many of you, I am asking for your help. You can be instrumental in helping us rebuild a better life from this mess after the government and the Home Office have turned their backs on us. To lose your home, your business and then be forced to choose between being with your wife or your daughter is an utterly unacceptable and heartbreaking predicament to be placed in. With your help, we have a chance of turning things around.
For as little as £10 (the price of a couple of pints of beer or a takeaway), you can play a valuable and greatly appreciated part in our journey home, our fight for justice and reuniting our fractured family. Any donations will be greatly welcome, yet even if you are unable to donate please at least share our campaign to as many people as you can. We are hoping to reach as many as possible to highlight not only our plight but also that of the many others who have had their lives blighted by this country’s incongruous stance on immigration.
The money will be used for :
Legal fees (which we will need to attend the tribunal court hearing), paying for all the damage that was left behind in my family home, replacing stolen and damaged possessions, auction fees, funds to show the Home Office we are able to support ourselves in the UK, and finally something to help us find new employment and a new place to call home once we return.
Thank you - we really appreciate any help you can give us.
Organizer
Michael Grieve
Organizer
