McCann parents silent after death of bullied woman

http://www.examiner.com/article/mccann-parents-silent-after-death-of-bullied-woman

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Madeleine McCann's father Gerry said he wanted an example to be made of so called "trolls" who speak against his family on Twitter. Now a woman is dead after being bullied in the media over her alleged use of social media to talk about the disappearance of the little girl -- as well as her suspicion surrounding the parents. She's not alone in that suspicion, considering Katie Hopkins has recently tweeted against Kate and Gerry, according to this Tuesday news report. Hopkins asked on Twitter:

"How many more must die before the McCanns accept negligence is at the heart of their grief?"

Katie Hopkins is definitely not alone in feeling that negligence played a role in Maddie's disappearance. After all, she was left alone by her parents at only three-years-old with her two infant siblings. Whatever happened to the child may not have happened at all had a proper babysitter or nanny been present while the parents were wining and dining at a nearby tapas bar. Unfortunately, the UK media appears to think that simply expressing the above sentiment on social media some how equates to directly "trolling" and targeting the parents of the missing tot. Since when is having a controversial opinion the only criteria for becoming a troll?

Brenda Leyland -- aka @Sweepyface -- supposedly took her own life after days of torment and online abuse from actual trolls. These trolls targeted her with an obscene level of vitriol after Sky News carelessly exposed her as "the McCann troll" in a highly publicized display. However, she may not have even been a troll at all. This news report shares that Leyland posted 1000s of "hate tweets," but none of them directly targeted Kate and Gerry McCann with death threats or any other threats. However, Leyland on the other hand was subject to numerous threats after her identity was exposed by Martin Brunt via Sky News.

It's interesting to note that neither Kate or Gerry McCann have addressed the media over this death -- especially just days after Gerry himself declared that he wanted an example made of those who "troll" them on the internet. Never mind the fact that Kate and Gerry reportedly don't use online social media, but it needs to be noted again that Brenda Leyland never appeared to directly threaten Kate and Gerry. So now that an example has been made of one of those who dare speak their opinion on this case, what happens next? Will Kate and Gerry ever make a statement about this horrible tragedy?

You would think just out of common courtesty (altthough it would just be for show) that they could at least say her death was "regrettable" or something similar.

I think by their spokesman saying it is entirely a matter for the police they have removed themselves from the sitatuon even though G called for an example to be made.. start a ball rolling when it gets out of control, ignore it and the utter devastation surrounding it.

I wonder if he thinks an example should be made of parents who leave their children at risk of harm, or disappearance,

Annabel wrote:
It's interesting to note that neither Kate or Gerry McCann have addressed the media over this death -- especially just days after Gerry himself declared that he wanted an example made of those who "troll" them on the internet. Never mind the fact that Kate and Gerry reportedly don't use online social media, but it needs to be noted again that Brenda Leyland never appeared to directly threaten Kate and Gerry. So now that an example has been made of one of those who dare speak their opinion on this case, what happens next? Will Kate and Gerry ever make a statement about this horrible tragedy?

   

They have never distanced themselves from their "supporters" on social media either.  There are copies of tweets circulating which were sent to Brenda by those who claim to support the McCanns.  

The content of the messages is truly horrific.  I was honestly horrified by what I read, very upsetting they are.

It might be a better idea to make a statement distancing themselves from those who talk of raping others, and call themselves "supporters".  They never have though, not to my knowledge, and I don't believe they were the "trolls" Gerry had in mind in his recent state of the nation address on the subject.

From J.H forum (http://jillhavern.forumotion.net/t10443-sir-bernard-hogan-howe-says-grange-is-a-murder-investigation-in-latest-interview) , perhaps the reason with the McCanns are so discret:

"Sir Bernard Hogan Howe is doing a Q and A session and is asked about the 'trolling' dossier.

It's from BBC london, drive time with Eddie Nestor (from 25 minutes) http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p02789bx

EN - Tell me about that file that was handed to you re. the McCanns, you know, concerned individuals and certainly that storie's been in the headlines with tragic consequences...yesterday. A file handed to you? Are you looking at it at the minute?


BHH - no what happened, well first of all, you may have seen over the last 10 days we've launched a cyber crime unit, about 500 officers. Thats really intended to target people who steal things, not necessarily bullying , I think that's going to be a real challange to us in the future just in terms of volume.


But in terms of that file, what happened if you recall was that the family handed to our team that are investigating the, or reviewing the murder of...of sorry, reviewing the missing girl. errr the McCann daughter. The file was handed to that team and we were liasing with Leicestershire police which is where the McCann family live....."

frencheuropean wrote:From J.H forum (http://jillhavern.forumotion.net/t10443-sir-bernard-hogan-howe-says-grange-is-a-murder-investigation-in-latest-interview) , perhaps the reason with the McCanns are so discret:

"Sir Bernard Hogan Howe is doing a Q and A session and is asked about the 'trolling' dossier.

It's from BBC london, drive time with Eddie Nestor (from 25 minutes)   http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p02789bx

EN - Tell me about that file that was handed to you re. the McCanns, you know, concerned individuals and certainly that storie's been in the headlines with tragic consequences...yesterday. A file handed to you? Are you looking at it at the minute?


BHH - no what happened, well first of all, you may have seen over the last 10 days we've launched a cyber crime unit, about 500 officers. Thats really intended to target people who steal things, not necessarily bullying , I think that's going to be a real challange to us in the future just in terms of volume.


But in terms of that file, what happened if you recall was that the family handed to our team that are investigating the, or reviewing the murder of...of sorry, reviewing the missing girl. errr the McCann daughter. The file was handed to that team and we were liasing with Leicestershire police which is where the McCann family live....."

Oops. And he forgot Madeleine's name too. But interesting to note Mr Hogan-Howe has confirmed that the dossier was handed to SY who in turn were in talks with Leicestershire Police. So, in other words, not significant enough for SY. And Leicestershire Police, after investigations, would I suspect probably only have pursued those who had made direct threats to the McCanns, which Brenda Leyland certainly had not.

When will the McCanns realise that once you are in the public eye, people are going to talk about you, especially if you are in the public eye because of something controversial that you did yourself. The McCanns have to live with it, as do many other so called famous people. Its what you would call par for the course, meaning 'it is not good but it is normal or as you would expect'. Direct threats, on the other hand, are a completely different matter and death threats should always be investigated. And I think, at the end of the day, death threats or threats of harm made directly to the McCanns would be all that Leicestershire Police would be concerned about. The rest of it is just unpleasant/nasty/offensive/hurtful, but can and should just be ignored.

so Sir BHH has confirmed it was the McCanns who handed the file to the Grange investigation team who in turn liaised with Leicestershire police. who appear not to have spoken to or investigated Brenda Leyland. so who gave her details to Brunty and what other details of individuals are in the hands of Sky news.

tanszi wrote:so Sir BHH has confirmed it was the McCanns who handed the file to the Grange investigation team who in turn liaised with Leicestershire police.  who appear not to have spoken to or investigated Brenda Leyland.  so who gave her details to Brunty and what other details of individuals are in the hands of Sky news.

Were they told there was going to be no further action on the file, so went to the press instead ?

Or

Did the police not act quickly enough so Sky was encouraged to publicise the issue, to get things moving, as it was a first step in a "wider agenda", that could not wait indefinitely for the police to kick start it.

There was a bigger plan being put into action,  imo.  It's been derailed for now, I wonder for how long though.

those are questions that I for one would like to see answers to Mossman. maybe it was part of a bigger plan, the details given by Sir BHH are somewhat different to those I had read in the msm.

As the spokesperson said, it is entirely a matter for the police. why wasn't it left with the police?

frencheuropean wrote:But in terms of that file, what happened if you recall was that the family handed to our team that are investigating the, or reviewing the murder of...of sorry, reviewing the missing girl. errr the McCann daughter. The file was handed to that team and we were liasing with Leicestershire police which is where the McCann family live....."

Is BHH a relative of Kate? He is certainly very hard to understand. Is he saying that it was the McCanns themselves (the family) that handed them the dossier? I suspect that they handed a copy to the media at the same time.

tanszi wrote:.  why wasn't it left with the police?

Or WHO didn't leave it with the police, tanszi ?

saloongirl wrote:You would think just out of common courtesty (altthough it would just be for show) that they could at least say her death was "regrettable" or something similar.

Their silence is frightening, truly horrifying.

I´m sure they´ll surface again Margaret, once a tactic has been worked out as to how they can be covered with roses and sweet smelling perfume.

I expect they'll find Sir BHH comments ludicrous and extremely unhelpful..

mara thon wrote:I´m sure they´ll surface again Margaret, once a tactic has been worked out as to how they can be covered with roses and sweet smelling perfume.

There too busy buying their tickets to Lisbon in the hope off getting their grubby little mitts on the 1m...THEN they will be off in the pretence off.....'we can't stay in the UK because we have to protect the twins from these terrible trolls'...and away they go, not a care for all the damage they have caused to innocent people, dead or alive, ruined or shunned and bullied...


They won't see a penny off Mr Amarals money, he will see to that.

I am actually wondering if they are putting together their next press release about how the "suicide of their troll" has "anguished and distrissed" them so much, that they are just going to have to sue Sweepy's estate.

Iris wrote:I am actually wondering if they are putting together their next press release about how the "suicide of their troll" has "anguished and distrissed" them so much, that they are just going to have to sue Sweepy's estate.

Don't go putting ideas in their heads Iris.

tanszi wrote:I expect they'll find Sir BHH comments ludicrous and extremely unhelpful..

They will find Sir BHH's Freudian slip unhelpful, that's for sure.

I think the 'dossier' was initially sent to Operation Grange and they knew it wasn't really anything they dealt with, so they sent it on to another police dept... maybe the Leicestershire police? Unless threats were made I bet it will not see the light of day again.

We do not... as yet... live in a totalitarian state. You are allowed to express opinions counter to the officially sanctioned ones online. Genuinely threatening a person (and remember Gerry Mccann had been talking about receiving death threats and threats to kidnap the twins) should never be ignored. Those who threaten are well up for prosecution (by the police and not by vigilante teams). However, we were not given any evidence Ms Leyland had ever made any kind of threats to the McCanns. Each day what Sky says about her gets milder and milder... she was guilty of 'internet abuse' - whether that is supposed to be misuse of the internet, or rudeness was not clear. Now she has dropped out of the news.

I said before, an elderly woman, however poised, living alone was easy meat. I don't agree that Brunty was merely doing his job. He should have turned down a request from Sky to do a live doorstepping of her, with a camera stuck into her face, pretending the police would be contacting her, when it seems she had not been threatening K and G, and so had done nothing meriting an official investigation of her activities. That's de facto harrassment, even if it may not be legal harrassment. Because you don't approve of someone's statements online doesn't mean they are fair game for live TV pillorying. Sky made a big feature of 'internet trolls attacking the McCanns' via the loathsome (yes... I say loathsome) presenter Eamon Holmes on Sunrise. It was the FIRST ITEM (how ridiculous is that) on Sunrise's Sky News at 6am on the day the film of the doorstepping was broadcast live and with all else going on in the world it was hammered home as their main focus all day.... Sky's pet project!

You are ALLOWED to say: 'I heard X speaking on the radio, and I didn't believe a word he said', or 'I don't think for a minute there was an abduction because..... etc', or 'She did not co-operate with the police and that is highly suspicious in my book'. Any kind of dissent is surely OK! Even being 'rude' about someone, though possibly distasteful, is permitted in law IMHO. All public figures who put themselves about as celebs and use the media for their own ends, must expect flak, justified or unreasonable from some quarters.

"I was only obeying orders."
Adolf Eichmann


Et tu, Brunty?