Fuel Price Protest GoFundMe: €152,965 Raised, Distribution Unclear, Vetting Began April 10

A GoFundMe page titled "Support the Protests. Money for food and drinks" was created on April 9 by Michael McCarthy to support fuel price protesters. The fundraiser quickly raised €152,965 from almost six thousand people before donations were paused on April 12.

The funds' distribution is unclear. McCarthy, who has a large social media following, has been fact-checked for misleading claims about migrants. A Facebook group, The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices, claimed they were "starving" despite the GoFundMe's success.

GoFundMe stated on April 10 they were vetting the campaign and in contact with McCarthy. After donations were suspended, McCarthy said GoFundMe had "paused the transfer of funds while they verify everything." He later posted a link to Nationrises.com, urging businesses to upload receipts for food and drinks provided to protesters.

McCarthy stated on April 12 that he would hire an accountant and solicitor and publish all expenditures. He claims full accounts will be public and that records are on his Instagram. He clarified he was "covering costs personally" initially, but businesses agreed to help with the understanding they'd be reimbursed once funds cleared. GoFundMe confirmed the funds "are safely held with our payment processor" and they are in contact with McCarthy.