Scottish island café raises £177,000 as legal battle with Hollywood star’s daughter goes global

A community café in the Outer Hebrides has become the focus of an international story involving a Hollywood star’s daughter, an assistance dog and fears for the future of an island’s gathering place.

Now supporters have donated £177,000 to Bernera Community Association, giving the charity a substantial financial boost as it faces a legal battle that volunteers had warned could threaten its survival.

More than 11,000 donations have been received, with the association reporting messages of support from across the country and around the world. The appeal will help meet legal expenses and the continuing costs of keeping its community centre open. 

The dispute centres on Claire Kellerman, the adoptive daughter of Sally Kellerman, who played Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the 1970 film M*A*S*H.

Her action against the association over access for her dog has taken Great Bernera into the pages of the New York Post, which highlighted the Hollywood family connection in its coverage. 

For those running the community centre, the consequences are closer to home. The building brings together a café and shop, museum, hall and gym – facilities supported by volunteers, fundraising and the income from everyday activities.

Its finances depend on everything from café sales and gym fees to hall bookings, raffles, wedding receptions and funeral teas. The association says the money it generates does not cover all its outgoings, leaving grants and public support essential to its operation. 

The surge in support has been accompanied by continuing uncertainty. “We still do not know what lies ahead, and we remain unable to discuss court proceedings,” the association said.

It thanked those who had donated, shared the appeal and sent encouragement, saying the response had reinforced how much the centre mattered to the community.

Kellerman’s position is that she has experienced disability discrimination. She alleges that her dog, Tarkina, was denied access to the café and that she faced harassment and hostility.

Civil Society reported that documentation provided by Kellerman confirmed Tarkina was an assistance animal. She described the dog as highly trained and a source of comfort. Those claims about her treatment remain within an ongoing dispute. 

Kellerman initially brought the action against the separate Bernera Community Development Trust, which does not run the café. It incurred more than £7,000 in legal costs before her representatives acknowledged that the wrong organisation had been named.

The action was subsequently amended to bring a £10,000 claim against Bernera Community Association. Kellerman has received legal aid, while the association has said it is not eligible for that support.

The dispute is due to return to Stornoway Sheriff Court on 25 February 2027.

Meanwhile, the centre’s ordinary financial pressures continue. The association says the closure of the local primary school in 2020 cost it income from council bookings for PE lessons, illustrating how the loss of one island service can affect another.

Bernera Community Association said today: “Over the past two weeks, we have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown to us. Messages of support have arrived from people throughout the country and from right around the world, and we have received donations from people who simply want to see our community centre remain open.
 
“We cannot put into words how much this means to us. Running a community centre comes with significant ongoing costs, quite apart from the legal expenses we are currently facing.
 
“Every donation, every message and every word of encouragement has helped remind us just how important this facility is to the community and how many people want to see it continue.
 
“To everyone who has donated, shared our appeal and offered words of encouragement or simply taken the time to think of us - thank you.
 
“The fact we have now reached £177,000 is an incredible achievement and is entirely down to the generosity of the public. We are immensely grateful.
 
“We still do not know what lies ahead, and we remain unable to discuss court proceedings. But whatever happens, we will never forget the support that has been shown to Bernera Community Association and to our community centre during this incredibly challenging period.”