Investigation into McCann internet trolls launched by police

[Carew]

Anonymous dossier compilers would not exist were it not for the cowardly trolls providing a surfeit of material for them to compile.

There would be no anonymous dossier compilers if the anonymous cowards who have made it their business to troll the McCann family and others were unable to do so with impunity.

As long as there are people devoid of any concept of moral rectitude which enables them to behave like savages there will be people around to report their illegal activities.

As long as there are people who have taken it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner to hound the family of a missing child there will be investigative reporters around to do their job and investigate their activities.

What is your problem with that?

You posted an article dated 14th Oct. 2013 which stated that Police were monitoring alleged online abuse.......such material was therefore already known to them, with the authorities presumably able to discern, research, trace and bring offenders to justice.

Your justifications and selected press articles do not alter the principle that Mrs Leyland had apparently not been interviewed by the police or labelled a troll, despite her material being already out there on view and "exposed" to scrutiny already, plus the police being in possession of your "dossier".

It was a wholly unofficial "research" and selective targeting of this one person by the dossier compilers via the press............. presumably because the official police "action" didn`t match what you wanted done.........(Is that about right?)

Yes I do have problems with .............(as you put it in your post above)............." people who have taken it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner" whilst pontificating to others about upholding the law.

[Mr Gray]

You posted an article dated 14th Oct. 2013 which stated that Police were monitoring alleged online abuse.......such material was therefore already known to them, with the authorities presumably able to discern, research, trace and bring offenders to justice.

Your justifications and selected press articles do not alter the principle that Mrs Leyland had apparently not been interviewed by the police or labelled a troll, despite her material being already out there on view and "exposed" to scrutiny already, plus the police being in possession of your "dossier".

It was a wholly unofficial "research" and selective targeting of this one person by the dossier compilers via the press............. presumably because the official police "action" didn`t match what you wanted done.........(Is that about right?)

Yes I do have problems with .............(as you put it in your post above)............." people who have taken it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner" whilst pontificating to others about upholding the law.

What at typically ridiculous post...with people like you acting as judge ...jury etc for the last 7 years...have you at last seen how wrong you were?

[Brietta]

You posted an article dated 14th Oct. 2013 which stated that Police were monitoring alleged online abuse.......such material was therefore already known to them, with the authorities presumably able to discern, research, trace and bring offenders to justice.

Your justifications and selected press articles do not alter the principle that Mrs Leyland had apparently not been interviewed by the police or labelled a troll, despite her material being already out there on view and "exposed" to scrutiny already, plus the police being in possession of your "dossier".

It was a wholly unofficial "research" and selective targeting of this one person by the dossier compilers via the press............. presumably because the official police "action" didn`t match what you wanted done.........(Is that about right?)

Yes I do have problems with .............(as you put it in your post above)............." people who have taken it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner" whilst pontificating to others about upholding the law.

I think that abusive tweets from a few obsessives represent the tip of the iceberg are not the real problem here. 

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

They should examine their consciences carefully and ask themselves what Madeleine’s siblings have done that the trolls now feel free to openly include them not just as collateral damage but as objects of their spite.

[slartibartfast]

I think that abusive tweets from a few obsessives represent the tip of the iceberg are not the real problem here.

Agreed, it is those who are using the actions of the few obsessives to denigrate anyone who questions the "official" story and thus stifle free speech and debate.

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

Pure speculation.

They should examine their consciences carefully and ask themselves what Madeleine’s siblings have done that the trolls now feel free to openly include them not just as collateral damage but as objects of their spite.

Agreed, does depend on your definition of troll.

[Jean-Pierre]

@Slarti - you said this was pure speculation:

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

A couple of examples: 

3As, MM, Madeleine Foundation for a start.

And of course every time an article is published in a newspaper, with comments left open - the "word" gets out.  Are you suggesting that all of this is simply random?   

[slartibartfast]

@Slarti - you said this was pure speculation:

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

A couple of examples: 

3As, MM, Madeleine Foundation for a start.

And of course every time an article is published in a newspaper, with comments left open - the "word" gets out.  Are you suggesting that all of this is simply random?

Unless you have any evidence otherwise, yes.

[stephen25000]

@Slarti - you said this was pure speculation:

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

A couple of examples: 

3As, MM, Madeleine Foundation for a start.

And of course every time an article is published in a newspaper, with comments left open - the "word" gets out.  Are you suggesting that all of this is simply random?

Paranoia.

Why shouldn't people give their opinion's ?

Why should they be drowned out by people who are trolls supporting the mccanns.

Just look at the sites which 'support' the mccanns, and you know exactly which ones I mean.

[faithlilly]

I think that abusive tweets from a few obsessives represent the tip of the iceberg are not the real problem here. 

The hounding of the McCanns has been organised since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 and I think people have to ask themselves by whom and they should also ask themselves why.

They should examine their consciences carefully and ask themselves what Madeleine’s siblings have done that the trolls now feel free to openly include them not just as collateral damage but as objects of their spite.

Members may well be beginning to ask themselves Brietta why YOU include the twins in every post you write. I have never, ever seen anyone direct spite at the McCann children. In fact if anything there has been a great deal of sympathy for them for having been exposed to a situation that was not of their making.

I would be very interested if you could illustrate your accusation with at least one example of the twins being targeted as 'objects of spite' but of course you won't. You will do what you always do and ignore the question.

It absolutely sickens me the way both the McCanns and their supporters use the twins like an emotional sledgehammer to elicit  sympathy for their feckless parents.

[faithlilly]

You missed out the bit about how "SY" agree with the supporters.

Oops, silly me !!! 

[Brietta]

Agreed, it is those who are using the actions of the few obsessives to denigrate anyone who questions the "official" story and thus stifle free speech and debate.

Pure speculation.

Agreed, does depend on your definition of troll.

And what pray is the “official story” … is it the final report absolving Madeleine’s parents from blame? Is it the review conducted by SY which produced sufficient evidence to allow the reopening of the case? Is it the independent review undertaken by the PJ which uncovered enough evidence to allow them to reopen the archived case? Is it search by the PJ and the Met for an abductor?

Pure speculation.

Hmmm … you prefer to say so although you know that is laughable. 
I’ve not been around long enough to have seen the three arguidos site; but that was only one of the first to be set up specifically to attack the McCanns and seek the troof; on their return to GB they had “vexatious” TB and his campaigns to contend with.
Not forgetting the ‘jailhouse lawyer’ John Hirst who as well as being a dedicated McCann hounder is also an axe murderer. 

That’s just one or two … the internet is awash with people who have made it their business … and it is big business … to hound the McCann family.

Agreed, does depend on your definition of troll.

 I am absolutely certain that your definition of troll won’t even meet my definition of troll even halfway.

However if you can give me one … just one … example of a family which has been deliberately persecuted for seven years in the horrific way the McCanns have been … there may be a starting point for debate on the matter.

One family … worldwide … just one example.  Easy peasy, eh

[stephen25000]

And what pray is the “official story” … is it the final report absolving Madeleine’s parents from blame? Is it the review conducted by SY which produced sufficient evidence to allow the reopening of the case? Is it the independent review undertaken by the PJ which uncovered enough evidence to allow them to reopen the archived case? Is it search by the PJ and the Met for an abductor?

Pure speculation.

Hmmm … you prefer to say so although you know that is laughable. 
I’ve not been around long enough to have seen the three arguidos site; but that was only one of the first to be set up specifically to attack the McCanns and seek the troof; on their return to GB they had “vexatious” TB and his campaigns to contend with.
Not forgetting the ‘jailhouse lawyer’ John Hirst who as well as being a dedicated McCann hounder is also an axe murderer. 

That’s just one or two … the internet is awash with people who have made it their business … and it is big business … to hound the McCann family.

Agreed, does depend on your definition of troll.

 I am absolutely certain that your definition of troll won’t even meet my definition of troll even halfway.

However if you can give me one … just one … example of a family which has been deliberately persecuted for seven years in the horrific way the McCanns have been … there may be a starting point for debate on the matter.

One family … worldwide … just one example.  Easy peasy, eh

'..........deliberately persecuted for seven years in the horrific way the McCanns have been............'

Just how close are you to the mccann family ?

[ferryman]

The twins?


Internet trolls fuelled by an ex police chief's claims about the McCanns incited conspiracy-theorists to plot to kidnap the couple's twins Sean and Amelie, a court heard today.
Goncalo Amaral's claims they faked daughter Madeleine's abduction to cover up her death in their Algarve holiday apartment was to blame for the threats, close family friend Michael Wright said.
Gerry and Kate McCann, 45, from Rothley, Leics, are suing the former Portuguese detective over his bombshell July 2008 book 'The Truth of the Lie.'
Defamed?
Defamed? Kate McCann, pictured speaking to press outside Lisbon's civil court last week, has brought a case of libel against the former police chief in the country who she says launched a 'smear campaign' against her
The couple have also launched £1 million libel proceedings at Lisbon's Palace of Justice against Mr Amaral's book publishers and a TV station which broadcast an April 2009 documentary based on his claims.
Mr Wright, husband of Kate McCann's cousin Anne-Marie, told the court the theories in Mr Amaral's book gave conspiracy theorists on anti-Mccann Internet forums 'focus' because he had been in charge of the botched investigation into Madeleine's disappearance.
He said: 'There were several examples of them inciting forum members to abduct one of the twins as they felt they would be able to throw some light on what may have happened.
'On one of the Internet forums, called The 3 Arguidos, there was an Internet conversation in great length where a member was suggesting that someone should abduct Sean or Amelie because they may be able to get information out of them that would confirm Mr Amaral's theories.'
Mr Wright, who helped monitor Internet activity on missing Madeleine for the couple, said he felt compelled to tell Gerry and he was interviewed by police from his home county of North Yorkshire after they decided detectives should be alerted.
He said the threats also made Gerry and Kate more vigilant about the use of the Internet by their twins, now eight.
Kate McCann mother of missing Madeleine leaving a Portuguese court after the start of the family's libel action against a former local police chief
Goncalo Amaral
Mrs McCann (left) is suing the Portuguese ex-police chief (right) for the book, titled 'Maddie: The Truth of The Lie', which accuses her of staging her daughter's disappearance, despite a lack of evidence
'I know Amelie has Googled her name and discovered sites to do with the conclusions of Mr Amaral's book,' he told the court.
'I do not know if she opened any of the pages and fortunately she told Gerry and Kate.
'But I know they will definitely be in a position where over the coming years they will search on the Internet and they will find people who will be saying their parents killed their sister.'
Mr Amaral's book was published just three days after the McCanns - made suspects over their daughter's death in September 2007 - had their status as 'arguidos' formally lifted.
Around 120,000 copies of the book were sold before it was withdrawn when the McCanns won an injunction against him.
It formed the basis for a documentary screened on TVI - the Portuguese equivalent of ITV - in April 2009.
Company director Mr Wright, from Skipton, North Yorks, said Gerry had suffered one of his darkest hours when they marked the second anniversary of Madeleine's May 3 2007 disappearance together in a remote cottage.
The couple were told on the way to the cottage locals on the Algarve were ripping up posters they had put up as part of a campaign to find their daughter.
He told the court: 'I had a discussion with Gerry where he talked about not being able to go on.
Kate McCann and Gerry McCann, pictured in interview in London this spring, launched £1million libel proceedings against Goncalo Amaral
Gerry McCann, left, has flown to Portugal to join his wife Kate in the £1million libel case they brought against former police chief Goncalo Amaral, who published a book about Maddie's disappearance
Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, from the family villa while they were on holiday in the Algarve, Portugal
Kate McCann at the The House of Commons giving evidence at the Parliamentary inquiry into the rights of families of missing people
Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, from the family villa while they were on holiday in the Algarve, Portugal. Mother Kate McCann has campaigned tirelessly to try raise awareness to help find her daughter
'I had never heard Gerry speak like that before.
'It was a very upsetting conversation for me to hear Gerry talk like that.
'Both he and Kate are incredibly strong and driven people.'
He said Kate, who flew to Lisbon last week for the start of the libel trial, changed whenever she was in Portugal where she felt most people believed Mr Amaral's theories.
'She feels she can't be seen to smile,' he told the court.
'Almost any form of relaxation is a problem, she wouldn't even go to the gym on her own, because there's still a belief most people in Portugal think she and Gerry are responsible for killing Madeleine.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2426813/McCann-children-kidnap-plots-took-place-websites-accusing-Kate-Gerry.html#ixzz3G3lcwrv7
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[faithlilly]

Ah the testimony of Wright. Do we know if the guilty were charged ? That was a very real threat to the twins safety. Surely someone was charged and tried ? Surely ?

[ferryman]

Ah the testimony of Wright. Do we know if the guilty were charged ? That was a very real threat to the twins safety. Surely someone was charged and tried ? Surely ?

Charged and tried?

You wanted examples of intrusions into the McCanns' privacy that invoked the twins.

I've given you one.

Here's another:

An actual tweet.

Marina Johnson ‏@beemmjay2011 4m
Was Ameilie #McCann on the school bus with Sean and will @reallorraine be interviewing the bus driver?
10:58 AM - 15 Jul 2014 · Details
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I'm sure it is far from isolated.

[Jean-Pierre]

Paranoia.

Why shouldn't people give their opinion's ?

Why should they be drowned out by people who are trolls supporting the mccanns.

Just look at the sites which 'support' the mccanns, and you know exactly which ones I mean.

No reason, Stephen.  I am a firm believer in article 10 of the ECHR.

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right
shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart
information and ideas without interference by public authority
and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States
from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema
enterprises.
2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it
duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities,
conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and
are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national
security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention
of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for
the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing
the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for
maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.