Trolls on the attack......

http://news.sky.com/story/1345871/mccanns-targeted-by-venomous-internet-trolls

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

The Metropolitan Police is investigating a catalogue of vile internet abuse targeting the family of Madeleine McCann including death threats, Sky News can reveal.

Officers are in talks with the Crown Prosecution Service after being handed a dossier of more than 80 pages of Tweets, Facebook posts and messages on online forums aimed at Kate and Gerry McCann.

Over the past few years hundreds of shocking messages have been posted by 'trolls' who believe - despite no evidence - that the McCanns had some involvement in the disappearance of their daughter in Portugal in 2007.

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These include suggestions that the McCanns should be tortured and killed and calls for them to "burn in hell".

Some messages are even directed at Madeleine's younger siblings, now aged nine.

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Video: McCanns Targeted By Internet Trolls
Manipulated images involving the McCanns - many of them graphic - are also in wide circulation online.

One troll - who uses the Twitter identity "Sweepyface" and has posted dozens of anti-McCann messages using the #mccann hashtag - was confronted by Sky News.

When asked about her use of social media to attack the couple, she replied: "I'm entitled to."

The dossier - compiled by members of the public alarmed at the online treatment of the McCanns and shown to Sky News - calls on police and MPs to act to crack down on such abuse.

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Video: McCanns Abused On Social Media
The Met wrote to the campaigners: "In consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and the McCann family the material will now be assessed and decisions made as to what further action if any should be undertaken."

Among the messages identified in the dossier is an exchange on a message board which reads: "These 2 should burn in hell"; "I will supply the petrol"; "I'll supply the lighter - happily".

Other posts include: "We need some numbers for some assassins on taps", "I hope that the McCanns are living in total misery" and "I want to see them smashed up the back of a bus or trampled by horses".

In one of her tweets "Sweepyface" called for the McCanns to suffer "for the rest of their miserable lives".

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Video: Sky's Martin Brunt On McCann Abuse
In addition to threats and abuse, several trolls have claimed to live nearby to the McCanns in Leicestershire and reported on their movements.

The campaigner spearheading the appeal - who has asked to remain anonymous - told Sky News: "We're very worried that it's only going to take somebody to act out of some of these discussions, some of the threats that have been made, and we couldn't live with ourselves if that happened and we had done nothing."

Author Anthony Summers, whose book Looking for Madeleine was published last month, said: "There is a campaign of hatred against the parents.

"It is venomous and vitriolic, most of it done by cowards. We are taken aback by the extent of the sheer evil behind it all."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-police-probe-vile-4363206

Oct 02, 2014 06:19 By Sam Adams
Kate and Gerry McCann have been subjected to disgusting attacks by trolls, some of whom have suggested the couple be tortured of killed

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Targeted: Gerry and Kate McCann are still searching for missing Madeleine (inset)
Police are probing a dossier of vile tweets targeting the parents of Madeleine McCann.

Kate and Gerry McCann have been subjected to disgusting attacks by trolls, some of whom have suggested the couple be tortured of killed.

The dossier, which includes 80 tweets, Facebook posts and forum messages, was handed to the Metropolitan Police by members of the public who feared for the McCann's safety.

One message board comment reportedly said: "These 2 [the McCanns] should burn in hell."

Sky News said other posts in the dossier included:"I hope that the McCanns are living in total misery" and "I want to see them smashed up the back of a bus or trampled by horses".

Some messages were said to have been directed at Madeleine's younger siblings, now aged nine.

The posts were gathered by people who are concerned about the abuse.

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One campaigner, who did not wish to be named, told Sky News: "We're very worried that it's only going to take somebody to act out of some of these discussions, some of the threats that have been made, and we couldn't live with ourselves if that happened and we had done nothing."

The material is being assessed by officers who are liaising with prosecutors and the missing girl's family.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We can confirm we received a letter and documentation on September 9 which was passed to officers from Operation Grange. They are assessing its contents and consulting with the CPS and the McCann family."

Operation Grange is the name for the Metropolitan Police's involvement in the search for Madeleine.

She went missing in Portugal when aged three in May 2007.

So-called trolling is a mounting problem for the authorities. Last year Scotland Yard said around 1,500 additional crimes linked to internet abuse were being reported to the force each year.



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Another attempt to waste a police force's time and energy? Not that I condone threatening messages to the McCanns or anybody, there's no call for that.

Saw the Sky report, looks to me as though Jim Gamble and Summers and Swan want payback for the spectacular fail of their sycophant McCann book. We have now moved to poor, poor Kate and Gerry, please buy the book.

This is perhaps why the posts were deleted from the Summers and Swan FB page.  Wouldn't look good if people came to see what these internet trolls were saying, only to find actual information about the McCann case that Summers didn't mention in his book. And there was the danger that the media might have quoted some of them once this story came out.

It's a shame - though of course entirely to be expected - that the media has focused on the gutter element of posters who think that it's acceptable to post insults and threats.

Occasionally have a look on the Mccann hashtag but never seen anyone say 'burn in hell and the Mccanns should be tortured' etc..

'Sweepyface' has been singled out. Never seen or heard of her before on the Mccann hashtag.

Don't condone threats and the like but it's understandable that the case should be questioned. For god's sake, the parents have lied through there teeth. Covered up the death and the disposal of there eldest. Bloody obvious to anyone with half a brain.

That should always be questioned until truth and justice prevails. IMO.

They don't report the massive abuse that the 'paid shills' dish out to anyone who questions the bollux version of events that the parents have said. The so called 'truth' which is a load of sh!t.

The 'paid shills' are the worst with there abuse and threats.

Report that Brunty you twunt.

Andrew wrote:Occasionally have a look on the Mccann hashtag but never seen anyone say 'burn in hell and the Mccanns should be tortured' etc..

'Sweepyface' has been singled out. Never seen or heard of her before on the Mccann hashtag.

Don't condone threats and the like but it's understandable that the case should be questioned. For god's sake, the parents have lied through there teeth. Covered up the death and the disposal of there eldest. Bloody obvious to anyone with half a brain.

That should always be questioned until truth and justice prevails. IMO.

Agree Andrew, I'm not a big twitter person, but you do get to know who the posters are and I have never heard of sweepyface. As for that video of Brunt "confronting a troll" I've never seen anything so contrived...quiet little village, yet no one seems that surprised that a Sky news team has shown up, then of course "sweepyface" gets into a conveniently places car, that fortunately already has someone at the wheel to "speed her away" for dramatic effect.

Then when I got to the end of the article, and the "unnamed" campaigner and in the next paragraph..there it is...Anthony Summers...The whole thing is just so badly put together, that I would doubt that even Clarence was anywhere near it

It is possible of course that some of the "burn in hell" brigade are pros whose aim is to discredit the doubters.

I don't do Twitter but you do get comments like that on certain Facebook groups.

And I also agree that whilst there may be a few, and i mean one or two people, who go a bit OTT in terms of wanting to see the McCanns face justice, I haven't seen any threats directed at them, and most certainly not at the twins.

I think some people may be a bit worried...and I don't think it's the so-called "McCann Trolls"

susible wrote:And I also agree that whilst there may be a few, and i mean one or two people, who go a bit OTT in terms of wanting to see the McCanns face justice, I haven't seen any threats directed at them, and most certainly not at the twins.

I think some people may be a bit worried...and I don't think it's the so-called "McCann Trolls"

Jim Gamble put in an appearance on the news report. Protesting mob justice on twitter, yet last night encouraging mob justice on paedophile hunter. Make your mind up Jim.

Well I googled it and whilst the twitter page has been removed, the account was listed as being a researcher from Los Angeles..so not sure how Sky managed to turn up at her door, and it sort of puts the brakes on the CPS taking any action..

Sorry the screen capture won't embed, but I have saved it

Yes, I watched that Cristobell...the guy is a prat and just seems focused on his own self interest. The programme itself was notable for having all of it's "professionals" being listed as retired or former..speaks volumes if you ask me

I've heard of sweepyface, she can be a wee bit rough but she tells it like it is. There are a lot of others who are much worse. I don't suppose Truly Judy is in the papers, she who compared the McCanns to holocaust victims and the dissenters as the oven stokers. I have many more like that saved up too, much much worse than anything any "anti" ever posted.

I could post a fair number of tweets from Jim Gamble too, that proves just how big an actual troll he is himself.

I have never seen such threats not on twitter, many tweets rather OTT and not nice though.  I do not look at facebook, so don't know what is said there.   Strange though we have this story and the sighting. 

So what else is happening then?  Aren't SY flying to Portugal sometime soon.................

Admin wrote:I have never seen such threats not on twitter, many tweets rather OTT and not nice though.  I do not look at facebook, so don't know what is said there.   Strange though we have this story and the sighting. 

So what else is happening then?  Aren't SY flying to Portugal sometime soon.................

Hmmm...quite and yet again we have accusations that people are making threats against the twins, never, ever as far as I am aware has anyone threatened the twins..yes many have voiced concerns about their welfare, but nothing that would cause them any harm whatsoever.

Yes, I assume that something must be about to happen, because it can't surely be about boosting S&S book sales...but then again..sigh..if there's a pound to be made you can be assured the Mc's and co will be on it.

Admin wrote:I have never seen such threats not on twitter, many tweets rather OTT and not nice though.  I do not look at facebook, so don't know what is said there.   Strange though we have this story and the sighting. 

So what else is happening then?  Aren't SY flying to Portugal sometime soon.................

I don't look at twitter that often, don't have the stomach for it. But when I do what I normally see are 'antis' trying to point people towards the PJ files and the evidence in general, and 'pros' calling them paedophiles and sickos and nutters. But that's a generalisation.

The PR people appear to have thrown out their nets, and caught ITV News and Sky. I wouldn't be surprised if C5 bite soon as well. Channel 4 News won't report stuff like this, they never do.

The BBC doesn't seem to have bitten, I can't find anything about this on their website yet.

Sky News ‏@SkyNews 2 hrs2 hours ago
What happened when @skymartinbrunt confronted an alleged Twitter troll targeting the parents of Madeleine McCann? https://vine.co/v/OmXDK9Lpe2O

This is a very risky strategy that simply reeks of desperation.

I once posted a message on CMoMM advising those that work for the McCanns to keep copies of everything. I hope that struck a chord because the if the police do investigate, the pros on twitter are as much at risk of prosecution as some of the antis.

That video just looks so contrived. How did they even know that was the person who used the internet handle sweepyface? They were out in the street, that woman could have been anyone! And a quick google showed that whilst the page has been taken down, the username is linked to a researcher in LA, okay so people can say anything on the internet, but really?

A massive non story imo

Sadly there is very bad stuff on twitter, most of it I think though occurs on the FB pages, which I have never even read, seeing who on twitter was posting links to it, not a place I want to be.

I blocked some time ago on twitter, because I didn't want to read the obscenities,,, Rothley Pillow. Also blocked Isabelle McFadden for the simple fact that she repeats lies and myths online which do nothing but a disservice to serious rational debate. Even stopped reading Dodgy Dr Payne, who I think was banned although he might be back under a new ID.

I have replied to a couple of the venomous minority asking what they think is being gained by that kind of tweeting only to be on the receiving end of a nasty reply. The twitter arena has moved away from q and a about the case [ I guess the 140 character limit makes discussion difficult, why I end up posting 10 tweets one after the other !] to comments about the case from both sides and abusive tweets to and fro between the more extreme pros and antis.

I left twitter for a while and then rejoined, but there is little of use going on there re the case.

I have seen messages about waterboarding, torturing the McCanns and one about being willing to provide the petrol for a fire, all reported by Sky News. As I have not seen that on twitter it might have been captured and posted on JATYK2 or Stop the Myths, or the Hounding of the McCanns blog... it was possibly from one of the FB pages, I have read that some vile stuff is posted there.

All nasty and sad and has been counter- productive if the desired result was to get people looking at serious written material such as the police files and the blogs.. Blacksmith, Johanna, Nigel Moore overshadowed by the nasty rantings by idiots on social media. The McCanns are now the main news on tv, with the writer Robbyn Swan speaking about trolls and haters.
Sky News has it as its lead story. It is an international story. One reporter has even pulled up twitter and FB comments since the story broke and there are tweets and FB posts defending the behaviour of the people at the centre of the nasty photoshopping [ they showed a photo of Kate in a dog collar with attached chains]. SICK.

Having said that, I have seen terrible posts from pro McCanns directed at doubters and not always at the offensive tweeters, at anyone they dislike for daring to ask questions. Maybe a dossier of these will be sent to the police.

I think to have put " sweepyface" on tv, when now the extreme pro mccanns can see what she looks like and where she lives, is risky knowing the extreme feelings which exist in this case.

btw to tweet that you saw Kate in a gym and gave her a dirty look seems harmless compared to some tweets, but put in context of threats of harm, it takes on a different colouring.

I have tweeted repeatedly recently that the hate posts would do harm to the area of discussion and debate and it has proved to be the case.
It looks like a co-ordinated plan to stifle debate, what with the recent book and Ms Swann coming out in defence of the dossier.

p.s. susible and others.... what I saw re the twins was that their privacy had been invaded by photos of them at the CW games being posted, a non -issue imo as this was in the newspapers for all to see.

There was ref some time ago to posts from people saying they would kidnap the twins to keep them safe from their parents... I am assuming that there will be a screenshot of such a post as evidence in the dossier.

Some people did jump on the McCann bandwagon imo just to post vile stuff as it is clear from the less than factual posts re the case that they have not read the police files. There are pros and antis who are on twitter so much of the time I don't know how they manage to wash, dress, shop, clean their homes and go to work if they have a job.
Still doing the rounds is the Gerry comparing losing his daughter to being overdrawn at the bank, something he never said... just one example.

To give Sky News credit, they were careful to point out the difference between the right to free speech and expressing an opinion and the posting of threatening and malicious messages.

susible wrote:

Admin wrote:I have never seen such threats not on twitter, many tweets rather OTT and not nice though.  I do not look at facebook, so don't know what is said there.   Strange though we have this story and the sighting. 

So what else is happening then?  Aren't SY flying to Portugal sometime soon.................

Hmmm...quite and yet again we have accusations that people are making threats against the twins, never, ever as far as I am aware has anyone threatened the twins..yes many have voiced concerns about their welfare, but nothing that would cause them any harm whatsoever.

Yes, I assume that something must be about to happen, because it can't surely be about boosting S&S book sales...but then again..sigh..if there's a pound to be made you can be assured the Mc's and co will be on it.

Yes, has Mickey Monitor ever come up with his "proof" of the "threat to kidnap the twins" that was supposed to have been posted on the 3As? He said that in Court under oath, Heaven Forbid that he might be telling porkies. Maybe he can take the owner of the 3As, one Brenda J Ryan, now one of the McCann's biggest and most vocal supporters, into the Court as a witness of this "threat to kidnap the twins", because surely she would have known all about it. It was, after all, on her forum.