Supporters of a man being sued in a landmark Facebook defamation case about the purchase by a former Labour minister of a mansion gifted to the community have raised nearly all of the money to cover his expenses to continue to challenge the move.
READ MORE: Labour ex-minister's purchase of museum mansion sparks landmark Facebook defamation case
The case involves allegations including on an online claim of corruption which was unwittingly sparked by former finance and health secretary Andy Kerr who bought the John Hastie Museum, previously bequeathed to the people of the Lanarkshire town of Strathaven.
Mr Kerr last year bought the £180,000 property - a museum that told the town's story until its 2011 closure - from a local developer who had purchased the mansion and its grounds from South Lanarkshire Council.
There is no suggestion that Mr Kerr and his wife Susan - who sits on the Labour-controlled local authority - have done anything wrong.
READ MORE: Labour ex-minister's purchase of museum mansion sparks landmark Facebook defamation case
Paulo Quadros, 62, a member of the Strathaven group on Facebook, is being sued over claims that included the posts which he said he didn't write.
Developer Burnhead's David Bryson filed a writ at Hamilton Sheriff Court saying posts on the Facebook group falsely alleged he "had been engaged in a criminal conspiracy in concert with a local politician to benefit that politician at the expense of the public".
Mr Quadros said he has been told the writ will be dropped if he apologises but said on a GoFundMe crowdfunding webpage that he has been backed by community members who say he should continue to contest the action.
READ MORE: Labour ex-minister's purchase of museum mansion sparks landmark Facebook defamation case
He has raised over £1,300 of an initial target of £1,800.
Mr Quadros posted he had received a writ asking for £20,000 damages.
He said: "Although the pursuer has now offered to drop the charges if I just apologise, I’ve been left with a legal defence bill for £1,425 so far.
"As many local residents and Strathaven group members are asking me not to apologise, I could apply for Legal Aid at a further cost of around £250 to £300 and defend the case in court to the end, so, a total of about £1725."
READ MORE: Labour ex-minister's purchase of museum mansion sparks landmark Facebook defamation case
Mr Quadros added: "I believe this is vital to protect the voices of our community and communities across Scotland. "
The defamation action also involves an email Mr Quadros wrote to Mr Bryson containing allegations against him, the interpretation of which is understood to be denied by Mr Quadros.
Mr Bryson's solicitor Fraser Geddes said earlier that "the Facebook posts, which initially caused our client some concern, and which did not appear to have been written by Mr Quadros, were eventually removed" adding: "While referred to in the court action, these posts were of secondary concern to our client, having by then been removed.
"His principal concern was the withdrawal of the statement made in his email, and an apology for that.
"It was his refusal or at least delay in doing so which resulted in this action being deemed necessary."
He created the funding page after friends in Strathaven and in the Facebook group came forward with donations.
Neither Mr Quadros or Mr Bryson could be contacted for comment yesterday.
The move comes two years after England and Wales reformed libel laws to bring them in line with social media and the internet, introducing a test of "serious harm".
The Herald is campaigning for similar changes north of the border.
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