I want to protect my children from cowardly internet trolls': Madeleine McCann's mother Kate on being target of online abuse ahead of London Marathon run

I want to protect my children from cowardly internet trolls': Madeleine McCann's mother Kate on being target of online abuse ahead of London Marathon run

Spoke on ITV's Daybreak with Lorraine Kelly and John Stapleton
Is running Virgin London Marathon on Sunday in aid of Missing People
Her daughter Maddie was abducted in Portugal in 2007, aged three
Doesn't want twin children Amelie and Sean, eight, to see internet abuse

By Martha De Lacey

PUBLISHED: 12:15 GMT, 18 April 2013 | UPDATED: 13:26 GMT, 18 April 2013

Comments (13)
Share


Kate McCann, whose three-year-old daughter Madeleine was abducted in Portugal in 2007, has spoken about being the target of internet abuse for taking part in the Virgin London Marathon this Sunday.

Speaking on ITV's Daybreak this morning, McCann, 45, who has been training to run in aid of the charity Missing People, an organisation which offers a lifeline of support when someone disappears, said she believes more needs to be done to tackle online trolls.

Under a link on Facebook about McCann doing the Marathon someone wrote: 'Well I am going to, Anyone got a Gun? BBBangggggg? (sic)'. Police are looking in to who made the threat.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Kate McCann talking on Daybreak this morning
Madeleine McCann, who went missing as a three-year-old in 2007

Kate McCann talking on Daybreak this morning, left, and her daughter Maddie, right, who went missing in Portugal in 2007 when she was three years old

She told Daybreak: 'We have obviously had a lot of abuse over the last six years, so in some ways it's nothing new. I think we tend to get a little bit blasé, which is wrong because you shouldn't do because it's bad.'


More...

The women abused by the doctors they trusted: Having sex with patients is now the most common reason for doctors being struck off. And the victims' emotional scars can last for ever
The day I became a wife then a widow in seven shattering hours
I left my son at four months old to go back to work. 37 years on, he's still paying the emotional price: One mother's startling and courageous confession

McCann continued: 'It is internet abuse and we both feel really strongly that more should be done about internet abuse. People wouldn't get away with behaving like that in the street and yet they feel like they can hide behind a computer at home.'
Kate McCann has been the target of internet trolls for the past six years
Kate said she and her husband Gerry feel strongly that something should be done to prevent people being targeted by internet abuse

Kate, speaking on Daybreak this morning, said she and her husband Gerry feel strongly that something should be done to prevent people being targeted by internet abuse

McCann, who also has eight-year-old twins Amelie and Sean with her husband Gerry, continued: 'We do have children. Even sometimes when I do think they're cowards and I'm not even going to go there, then I think about my children and I think it's not right that they should come across stuff like that as well.'
'I do think they're cowards and I'm not even going to go there, then I think about my children and I think it's not right that they should come across stuff like that'


Speaking to presenters Lorraine Kelly and John Stapleton, the mother-of-three revealed she plans to go ahead with the marathon, despite some recent knock-backs to her health. She explained: 'It's been quite a slog and I think anybody who attempts a marathon knows there's a lot of training involved.

'And it's gone well really until the last five weeks. I've got a couple of problems, I've had a recurrent Achilles tendon problems... and I’ve also got a problem with the joint in my left foot.'

Defiant Kate McCann will run the London Marathon
John Stapleton and Lorraine Kelly interviewing Kate McCann on Daybreak this morning about the Virgin London Marathon and the death threats she has received online

John Stapleton and Lorraine Kelly interviewing Kate McCann on Daybreak this morning about the Virgin London Marathon and the death threats she has received online

Speaking to The Sun recently about the internet abuse, he McCann's family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: 'This material has been brought to the attention of the police. One of the posts is actually a death threat and is being dealt with appropriately.'

Really? And what about MY children who were the target of online abuse from McCann supporters? Or don't they count?

Iris wrote:Really? And what about MY children who were the target of online abuse from McCann supporters? Or don't they count?

or the abuse i contiue to get from the likes of muratfan bonnybras etc to name a few?

Would k8 anwer tweeters,blockers question, live Tv? No hiding behind pre agreed questions. Face to face. As she keeps moaning whining about 'people behind their computers' Would she dare to face their questions, they all have asked since 6 years. Somehow I doubt it. Who is hiding in reality?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2311006/Madeleine-McCann-Mother-Kate-ITV-Daybreak-Facebook-internet-abuse-running-Virgin-London-Marathon.html

24 comments so far.

Best rated:


To protect from Internet Trolls is very easy, do not use social forums.

- Agincourt, York, 18/4/2013 15:14

Click to rate Rating 319

Report abuse
.

IWhy not just keep your life private and think of the how your children will feel instead of popping up on TV every six months!

- Jo R, London, 18/4/2013 15:22

Click to rate Rating 269

Report abuse
.

There's something about this woman I just do not like!

- Lisa, BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom, 18/4/2013 15:08

Click to rate Rating 245

Report abuse
.

I would think the best way to avoid internet trolls is to keep out of the public eye. I don't think there is any need anymore for the publicity.

- Me-Somewhere, Leicester, 18/4/2013 16:04

Click to rate Rating 111

The only vile abuse I've ever seen comes from the pro trolls...and lets face it, until this latest round of publicity, anything against the McCanns disappeared faster than it could get posted, to the point that most McCann stories don't even allow comments.

Whilst here and on other forums, posters sometimes get frustrated at the sheer gall of the McCanns whenever they rear their less than attractive heads (trying not to be offensive :)) Mostly the debate is about the case and our opinions and with the exception of one or two posters in the past, no one has made any threats directly or indirectly to the McCanns...and certainly not to their children!

I for one have never been too bothered about anonymity, which has led me to be targeted by pros, newspaper columnists(NoTW) and even from a poisonous person who claimed to be a pro (but is in fact a self-serving, trouble stirring prat) so I'm not hiding behind a computer screen, I would gladly stand up and be counted, if only I could get the opportunity to ask some questions properly...Never going to happen though, because in truth, they cannot answer those questions honestly, if at all, without incriminating themselves.

The people she will have to protect her children from are other children as the twins move through their school years. There will be children whose parents talk about Madeleine and who have read about the case on the internet.

I suspect it is more the fact that Kate doesn't want the twins to find out how she and Gerry left them alone night after night whilst they went to enjoy their "me time". I doubt she wants them to find out how many times their stories changed and the fact that all three children had to share one toothbrush, and of course all the rest of the rubbish Kate and Gerry have come up with from rotting meat and nappies and putting one of the twins in Madeleine's shoes days after her "disappearance". The Mccanns are going to have some difficult explaining to do as the twins grow up and start to question events.

mara thon wrote:I suspect it is more the fact that Kate doesn't want the twins to find out how she and Gerry left them alone night after night whilst they went to enjoy their "me time". I doubt she wants them to find out how many times their stories changed and the fact that all three children had to share one toothbrush, and of course all the rest of the rubbish Kate and Gerry have come up with from rotting meat and nappies and putting one of the twins in Madeleine's shoes days after her "disappearance". The Mccanns are going to have some difficult explaining to do as the twins grow up and start to question events.

Mr McCann said: ‘Sean talks all the time about finding Maddie and what he will do to the person who stole her.
‘They know they went to sleep and when they woke up she had disappeared. But they still don’t understand that somebody took her.
‘When they become aware of this I think they will want to know where we were. And we will have to explain to them that we were having dinner in the restaurant next door.’

The restaurant next door!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1270357/Maddie-plays-dressing-weeks-vanished-McCanns-fly-Portugal-bid-reopen-case--release-new-picture.html

AnnaEsse wrote:

mara thon wrote:I suspect it is more the fact that Kate doesn't want the twins to find out how she and Gerry left them alone night after night whilst they went to enjoy their "me time". I doubt she wants them to find out how many times their stories changed and the fact that all three children had to share one toothbrush, and of course all the rest of the rubbish Kate and Gerry have come up with from rotting meat and nappies and putting one of the twins in Madeleine's shoes days after her "disappearance". The Mccanns are going to have some difficult explaining to do as the twins grow up and start to question events.

Mr McCann said: ‘Sean talks all the time about finding Maddie and what he will do to the person who stole her.
‘They know they went to sleep and when they woke up she had disappeared. But they still don’t understand that somebody took her.
‘When they become aware of this I think they will want to know where we were. And we will have to explain to them that we were having dinner in the restaurant next door.’

The restaurant next door!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1270357/Maddie-plays-dressing-weeks-vanished-McCanns-fly-Portugal-bid-reopen-case--release-new-picture.html

The restaurant comment is a classic. Last time I was in PDL there wasn't a restaurant attached to their apartment. Did the apartment next door become a pop up restaurant for that week they were there??

That one will only work until the twins are big enough to want to go back to Portugal and see the place for themselves. And what will Kate McCann do then?

eta - Just noticed that she has been referred to as "McCann" and not "Kate" for most of that report. Isn't that what they do with criminals, call them by their surname?

Just watched the video on youtube uploaded by hideho.

Thank you!!

I'm interested that she's started to worry about what her twins will read on the internet about them.
Furthermore, they think something should be done about the internet....

I'm convinced she is logging into this forum, or others like it.

Dear Kate,
When your children find out what you've done.
You're going to wish they were taken away by social services,
just like any other mothers childrens would do, if they were neglected and according to Goncalo Amaral, drugged.
Kind Regards......


Loop.

PS:

Wherever you go, wherever you may run.
There are few that believes you.
I look forward to the public giving you a similar reception to thatcher.

PPS:

The truth will out.
Maddie will be turning in her (watery) grave until it does.

http://l-azzeri-lies-in-the-sun.com/

A previously unknown (to me at least) website with some very interesting blogs. I recommend "Madeleine - 6 years gone" as a starter.

mara thon wrote:I suspect it is more the fact that Kate doesn't want the twins to find out how she and Gerry left them alone night after night whilst they went to enjoy their "me time". I doubt she wants them to find out how many times their stories changed and the fact that all three children had to share one toothbrush, and of course all the rest of the rubbish Kate and Gerry have come up with from rotting meat and nappies and putting one of the twins in Madeleine's shoes days after her "disappearance". The Mccanns are going to have some difficult explaining to do as the twins grow up and start to question events.

Exactly! She is not concerned about protecting the twins, she is only concerned about them finding out the truth! Soon the twins' friends will start asking them questions as well. Kate is desperate to make all of the information available on the internet disappear, high up on the list would be the findings of the dogs!

As long as the McCanns do not face justice in court, I hope that at least these boards are still up and running so that the twins will be able to find out more about what really happened on that fateful holiday.

jinvta wrote:

mara thon wrote:I suspect it is more the fact that Kate doesn't want the twins to find out how she and Gerry left them alone night after night whilst they went to enjoy their "me time". I doubt she wants them to find out how many times their stories changed and the fact that all three children had to share one toothbrush, and of course all the rest of the rubbish Kate and Gerry have come up with from rotting meat and nappies and putting one of the twins in Madeleine's shoes days after her "disappearance". The Mccanns are going to have some difficult explaining to do as the twins grow up and start to question events.

Exactly! She is not concerned about protecting the twins, she is only concerned about them finding out the truth! Soon the twins' friends will start asking them questions as well. Kate is desperate to make all of the information available on the internet disappear, high up on the list would be the findings of the dogs!

As long as the McCanns do not face justice in court, I hope that at least these boards are still up and running so that the twins will be able to find out more about what really happened on that fateful holiday.

But she deliberately exposed the twins to publicity this weekend, anyone could have taken photographs of them - even though they weren't published in the press.
They're only eight - using the twins in the publicity blurb is the first step on a dangerous road - not happy about that at all. Bad enough they were told a monster stole their sister, I hope they're not going to be used in future publicity campaigns.
Responsible parenting - so far I haven't seen it. The twins were used in the 2009 documentary without any problems or pixellation to hide their faces.

Most celebrities don't show their children to the public, there are too many idiots around. Meryl Streep has children - grandchildren by now I expect, ever seen them? The Beckhams and their brood are well protected when they go out with their children, they have minders/bodyguards which is unfortunately necessary.
Most A list celebrities do have to have bodyguards just for themselves, why expose your children to a similar risk?

Mccanns have used their children for their own ends, from 2007. Why would they change that now?

The press is on a hiding to nothing. Newspapers are losing circulation and consequently the advertizing revenues that they need to survive. Technology is advancing at such a speed that there is no way that newspapers with their mindset from the last century can keep up. Young people access news through their smart phones or tablets wherever they are - take pictures of whatever they are doing and post them on their Facebook pages in an instant. Twitter allows them to express their opinions on any subject they like whenever they want to. Watch peoples' behaviour in public places; there was a time when their first action after finding a seat on a train or a table at a cafe was to open a newspaper - not anymore - the first thing that the majority do is busy themselves with their iPhone or tablet. It's a trend that is gathering pace. Even babies have been observed to exhibit withdrawal symptoms when they have no access to tablet computers. Over the next few years we will see the demise of many of the current publications - national and local. Newspapers and magazines are an anachronism and editors and journalists are part of that anachronism - a dying breed desparately fighting to stem the tide - a handful of Luddites who have failed to adapt to a changing environment. When the Mirror closed its forum it was an expression of that abject failure of the conventional media to embrace the new situation; instead they retreated behind a defensive wall of name calling. According to the media the Internet is full of nasty trolls threatening small children and making unfounded accusations against the holier-than-thou McCanns. It's the press' answer to a phenomenon they do not understand - they have no other answer to the Internet and the expanding generations of iPhone and tablet users who are now experiencing the freedom to express themselves instantly on anything that interests them, communicate with others and exchange opinions at will. The press are no longer the opinion makers - they are inexorably finding themselves consigned to the scrapheap of history. When the press decides to carry the torch for people like Mitchell and McCanns and censure readers' adverse comments - you just know that they are finished. I suspect that it isn't the UK libel laws which inhibit the press from exposing the McCann sham, but their blind hatred of the Internet - because it was the Internet which exposed the sham a long time ago - a fact which the press believes it cannot be seen to accept.

Not Born Yesterday wrote:http://l-azzeri-lies-in-the-sun.com/

A previously unknown (to me at least) website with some very interesting blogs. I recommend "Madeleine - 6 years gone" as a starter.

Just read it NBY, your'e right, it is interesting, too long to copy and paste here though.

Your'e right T4two, the internet is directly responsible for the decline in Town Centres and shopping Malls because so many Stores have internet shopping.
Youngsters using their mobiles will forget how to spell proper words, spellchecks will take the place of Dictionaries, calculators the place of times tables.
when you think how long it took for Apes to turn into humans and how short a time this process is being reversed it is scary.

T4two wrote:The press is on a hiding to nothing. Newspapers are losing circulation and consequently the advertizing revenues that they need to survive. Technology is advancing at such a speed that there is no way that newspapers with their mindset from the last century can keep up. Young people access news through their smart phones or tablets wherever they are - take pictures of whatever they are doing and post them on their Facebook pages in an instant. Twitter allows them to express their opinions on any subject they like whenever they want to. Watch peoples' behaviour in public places; there was a time when their first action after finding a seat on a train or a table at a cafe was to open a newspaper - not anymore - the first thing that the majority do is busy themselves with their iPhone or tablet. It's a trend that is gathering pace. Even babies have been observed to exhibit withdrawal symptoms when they have no access to tablet computers. Over the next few years we will see the demise of many of the current publications - national and local. Newspapers and magazines are an anachronism and editors and journalists are part of that anachronism - a dying breed desparately fighting to stem the tide - a handful of Luddites who have failed to adapt to a changing environment. When the Mirror closed its forum it was an expression of that abject failure of the conventional media to embrace the new situation; instead they retreated behind a defensive wall of name calling. According to the media the Internet is full of nasty trolls threatening small children and making unfounded accusations against the holier-than-thou McCanns. It's the press' answer to a phenomenon they do not understand - they have no other answer to the Internet and the expanding generations of iPhone and tablet users who are now experiencing the freedom to express themselves instantly on anything that interests them, communicate with others and exchange opinions at will. The press are no longer the opinion makers - they are inexorably finding themselves consigned to the scrapheap of history. When the press decides to carry the torch for people like Mitchell and McCanns and censure readers' adverse comments - you just know that they are finished. I suspect that it isn't the UK libel laws which inhibit the press from exposing the McCann sham, but their blind hatred of the Internet - because it was the Internet which exposed the sham a long time ago - a fact which the press believes it cannot be seen to accept.

Well said

The papers would/will make a mint if the truth ever comes out! It will double the circulation.

Since 2000 the Sun and the Mirror have lost about 1 million readers.
Since 2000 the Mail and the Express have lost about half a million readers each.

The slack having been taken up by the internet or online editions which also generate considerable income.

2007 falls in the middle of this decline and explains why the publicity for the McCanns was such a perfect storm. The internet hadn't yet taken over much, yet they were losing readers steadily.

Interesting figures to look at. the Sun's decline was halted by the McCanns, remaining fairly steady up to 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_circulation

tigger wrote:The papers would/will make a mint if the truth ever comes out! It will double the circulation.

Since 2000 the Sun and the Mirror have lost about 1 million readers.
Since 2000 the Mail and the Express have lost about half a million readers each.

The slack having been taken up by the internet or online editions which also generate considerable income.

2007 falls in the middle of this decline and explains why the publicity for the McCanns was such a perfect storm. The internet hadn't yet taken over much, yet they were losing readers steadily.

Interesting figures to look at. the Sun's decline was halted by the McCanns, remaining fairly steady up to 2010.
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_circulation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_circulation[/quote[/url]]
Thanks tigger, interestingly it is only the Daily Star is the only Paper to increase it's circulation , good thinking Calarence to choose the Daily Star.
I have always thought that there were far too many Dailies for such a small Country as Britain and maybe this is part of the reason for the demise in honest reporting . I suspect a few more Dailies will close down soon.

in 2007 NOBODY could have forseen the power of social media. Facebook and Twitter had just started up and were relatively unkown, and there weren't many 'ordinary' people making their own websites or blogs.

Even twenty years ago, Team McCann would have gotton away with their media manipulation, scott free.

I think it is significant that none of the Dailies followed up on the Daily Star article , maybe they have realised that they have backed the wrong horse and
wrung all they could out of the McCann saga hoping the upcoming trial and ST review will give them something to write about.