The mother of Swiss student Manuela Riedo says she bears "no ill-will" towards the people of Ireland following a public row with Irish publican Brendan McGuinness over the whereabouts of money raised for the murdered teenager's foundation.
The Swiss-based publican had fundraised €11,700 for the Manuela Riedo foundation, which he had yet to hand over, but has committed to paying.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune from Switzerland through an interpreter, Arlette Riedo said: "We could never have ill-will towards Irish people. We have so many friends there. It is a beautiful country. We love Ireland – we are spending a week there next week."
The Manuela Riedo Foundation was set up by McGuinness to help victims of rape and their families across Europe. It has the backing of Arlette and Hans Pieter Riedo. McGuinness had a disagreement with the Riedos when they backed a concert in Galway in their daughters' name, held in October last year.
Brendan McGuinness refused to support the event – which raised €50,000 – as he said he had organised a concert in the O2 in Dublin last November, which he then had to cancel.
When contacted by the Sunday Tribune, Brendan McGuinness said it had been his choice to step down from the Manuela Riedo Foundation, as he established it. "Stepping out of it was my decision. I started the foundation. I'm also going to close it." He said Arlette and Hans Pieter would not be able to continue the foundation because he set it up. "With all due respect, Mrs Riedo can say whatever she wants," he said.
He added that he was taking legal action against the Swiss newspaper Blick that first reported that fundraised money was unaccounted for.
He confirmed to the Joe Duffy radio show last week that the €11,700 he raised from a concert in his own pub had not been handed over yet. He said he was currently doing his accounts and the money would be paid.
Arlette said she met the Basle-based publican after she returned home with her husband from the trial of Galway man Gerard Barry, who was found guilty in March last year of murdering her only child.
He suggested setting up the Manuela Riedo foundation and offered to stage a fundraiser at his pub in Basel.
The concert was held at his pub eight months ago in July. But he has refused to communicate with the Riedos for several months and has yet to hand over the substantial sum raised at his pub, according to the Riedos.
"The day after we got back from the trial, McGuinness approached us and proposed a concert to raise money in his pub. He became our friend. We opened up and trusted him. He came to us at our most vulnerable point," Arlette Riedo told the Sunday Tribune.
"Now, we just want all this to be over. We want to move on from Brendan McGuinness. We just want him to give the money he raised for the foundation to be handed over so we can put it into helping raise awareness and to good use."
She said it was her belief that the publican will hand over the money. "He sold 500 tickets for the fundraiser at his pub. We wrote him letters, sent him cards as well as text messages and phone calls. We even sent him a Valentine card and a New Year card. But we got no feedback. We had to find out ourselves how many tickets were sold. We want to know now how much alcohol was sold at his pub that night," she said.
"The disagreement began because he was against supporting the fundraiser in Galway. We wanted to do it. It was where our daughter died and we have friends there. He was furious because we did the fundraiser without him. He was left out of it."
Arlette added that she expected McGuinness would hand over the money eventually. "I think there is pressure on him now because it has been in the news. It has been very difficult for us – he came to us at our most vulnerable point."
In March last year, Gerard Barry (29), of Rosan Glas in Rahoon, was convicted of the murder of 17-year old Manuela in Galway in October 2007.
While Arlette and her husband Hans Pieter are still mourning the loss of their only child, she said she has in some way come to terms with her daughter's death.
"She was in the wrong place at the wrong moment. It was fate for it to happen. We miss her but she's here in a way. She's our Manu. Now we just want to have this moment with McGuinness finished. Life was beautiful before and it is still as beautiful as ever. Sometimes when we are out in the garden we can feel her still with us.
"We miss her but she is still here."
I sincerely hope that this is all an innocent misunderstanding and not the usual irish cunning we've all known for many years showing no respect for others.
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We are so sorrry all this had to happen to you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.