Jay Slater’s mum had ‘never even heard of GoFundMe’ – but now is getting abused constantly over £72k fund
JAY Slater’s family have been plagued by false accusations they have ‘stolen’ money from a GoFundMe appeal for him.
But it was set up by Jay’s friend, Lucy – and Debbie did not know anything about it until the fund was already established.
Debbie told of the torment she has suffered over the GoFundMe page as she opened up to The Sun in an exclusive interview about her horrific ordeal at the hands of vile trolls.
But Debbie, 56, has been in regular contact with a liaison officer at GoFundMe to outline what money has been used for.
Debbie – whose family turned to search teams in their desperation including private Dutch firm Signi Zoekhonden – had not heard of GoFundMe before the page was set up.
She told The Sun: “I did not know anything about GoFundMe and did not know what it was.
“We were only told about it by Lucy when we were at the police station.
In her first interview since Jay’s death, Debbie told The Sun…
- How Jay really got caught up in ‘gang attack’ that landed him with conviction
- She ‘just screamed’ when cops found her son’s body
- She denies rumours Jay stole £12k watch & fell foul of Tenerife drug cartel
- Jay was ‘popular lad’ who didn’t deserve trolls’ abuse
“We have had all these people slagging me off about a GoFundMe that I didn’t ask for.
“I said, so I don’t want to use it and didn’t want to touch it.
“The only things it’s been used for are some accommodation costs, the dog team that came over – and some repatriation costs which are still ongoing.
“I have been speaking to GoFundMe me virtually every day and they have been amazing and so supportive.
“They know the money has not been misused – and have been telling me I don’t have to explain what every last penny has been used for.”
Brave Debbie told The Sun about how the trolling started as soon as she arrived in Tenerife after Jay, 19, went missing on June 17.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished on June 17 after a night out at with friends at a festival in Tenerife.
His remains were found in a ravine in the Rural de Teno park in Tenerife on July 15 after a four-week search.
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs at Accrington Crematorium on Saturday, August 10.
And – sitting alongside son Zak, 24 – in her first interview since Jay’s death, Debbie insisted claims her son stole a watch hours before he vanished are nothing more than callous rumours.
Cranks peddled false theories including that Jay had fallen foul of a drugs cartel and had taken a yacht to Morocco.
But Debbie said: “He would never have been involved in anything like that.
“He had only been in Tenerife three days – and was at a festival with friends which had wristbands, security and an itinerary.
“I’ve no idea where these drug stories have come from and the stuff about him stealing a watch is nonsense.”
She also said the teenager was “guilty by association” over an attack that left him with a conviction.
My loving, popular son
JAY Slater's mum paid tribute to her “loving and popular” 19-year-old who “had the world at his feet”.
Debbie Duncan told how Jay was devoted to his family and friends, would always dance at events and recently took his her to see Bob Marley film One Love.
The grieving mum and brother Zak, 24, told how they took comfort from the hundreds who attended his funeral on August 10 to celebrate his tragically short life.
Debbie, 56, said: “Jay was just a lovely boy with a massive personality.
“Everybody just loved Jay being in his company – family, friends and work.
“He was loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling – and the main guy in the group.”
Debbie and Zak – one of Jay’s pallbearers – were seen linking arms for support as they walked his coffin to its final resting place at Accrington Crematorium, Lancs surrounded by family and friends.
And heartbroken Debbie added: “He deserved every bit of what he had at his funeral, with people paying tribute – and none of the abuse he has had.
“I am still trying to process everything, really, and it’s hard to explain how I feel.
“Jay was 19 with the world at his feet. He was coming back to a good job and was about to take his driving test. He was a normal lad.”
Grief-stricken mum Debbie showed us trophies, pictures and mementos of Jay – including a photo and hand-print of his first day at West End Primary School in 2009 – to illustrate his normal upbringing.
She proudly clutched a Players’ Player of the year award from his footie team – Huncoat United in Accrington – from 2015/2016.
And Debbie also showed us a trophy Jay received from employers, PH Build, for best apprentice in 2022.
She said: “Jay was a normal lad and went to a nice primary school.
“He was just so popular from a young age – and was always playing out on the front, in the front garden, with the neighbours. He was just brilliant.
“He was kicking a football as soon as he could walk.
“He played for Huncoat United from the age of five, and went through all the teams.
“As he got older he was into music and DJs, like Hannah Laing. He started going to more events, following DJs and the dance scene
“It was all work hard, play hard, really.
“Then his football kind of went on a back burner because it was early Saturday morning games, and he didn’t really want to get up on a Saturday morning to play football.
“Jay was due to come home, finish his apprenticeship and take his driving test.
“He was already working on big barn conversions and properties for the building firm and his bosses loved him.”
Zak said: “Jay was the best little brother anyone could ever wish for. Always smiling, always happy, just laughing, sort of, at the party.”