Outed Internet Troll Dead

[hc4361]

I was shocked to read the orginal report of this woman trolling the McCanns and am doubly shocked by this news report

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2781377/BREAKING-NEWS-Internet-troll-targeted-McCanns-dead-hotel-room-days-fleeing-home.html

I cannot begin to understand what motivates some seemingly 'decent' people to become internet trolls but it seems the shame is too much to bear in this case.

[hc4361]

On reflection, I would like to amend my thread title.

Suspected internet troll accused by Sky news reported found dead, probably suicide.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't suppose in truth any of us can get inside another person's mind, some may be purely vindictive, some deluded and others mentally ill.



To result in death is terrible all the same.

[kvalidir]

the ultimately sad conclusion to a horrible and sad life by the sound of it, as if the McCanns don't have enough to cope with already, plus the lady's children must feel absolutely awful. There are those who say if you live by the sword, you die by the sword, but you have to wonder how rotten her life must've been to make he such a hateful creature ( assuming it's true of course). If of course she hasn't done anything then this is truly dreadful.

[hc4361]

If it is true, who tipped off Sky?

Could this have been dealt with to the satisfaction of the McCann's by a formal warning from the police and a written apology to the McCann's without the intervention of the media?

[ChillDoubt]

Saw her being confronted on Sky News last week, she attempted to justify what she had been doing.
Pity she felt the need to apparently take her own life but to concur with the OP I have no idea what motivates people to snipe and troll with such vitriolic abuse.

[Psybbo]

hc, I think Sky are tracing trolls via their isps, not a bad thing

[hc4361]

I strongly believe that is for the police and other official agencies to deal with, not the likes of Sky whose sole aim is to up their news coverage and sell their stories on to third parties.

[anneasquith]

'' how rotten her life must have been '' well we don't actually know anything about this woman's life do we ?

[Henrietta]

HC4361 why have you changed the title from "Troll" to "Suspected troll"?

"The troll investigation featured in numerous newspapers including The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Daily Star, The Daily Express as well as the Daily Mail after Sky News exposed her identity as one of the trolls who targeted the McCanns."

"She told a reporter who confronted her that she had been ‘entitled’ to make the comments using her Twitter identity @Sweepyface."

^Isn't that enough proof?

Anyway what she said was sickening and I have been targeted by trolls and many sites and used to let it get to me then one day someone told me something like "You must be popular if you have all these trolls wasting their time chasing you and commenting after you"

And something like

"If you have these severely deranged people stuck on the internet instead of of outside harrassing people on the streets then you deserve a medal for a public service you're doing"

Anyway I soon learn that the internet or certain sites are just a small part of my life and I can swerve certain sites for more positive ones or just switch the computer off and get on with real life stuff which I did.

Just a pity that this woman despite her suspicions couldn't have been more positive towards the Mcanns or just kept the debate legal and non offensive ( If that was possible otherwise leave it well alone )

I was seriously trolled by some complete weirdos but I pitied them and would have been saddened if any of them had took their life had I reported it.

My condolences to her friends and families who now have to deal with the aftermath of number one finding out she was/portrayed herself as an "Evil troll" and now her suicide.

Very very sad situation for all involved :(

[Prudie]

I don't condone it in the slightest but we have to accept there are a group of people who do believe the McCanns were involved. I've seen it suggested many a time over the years on this site even. Maybe she actually thought she was doing the right thing...just an alternative view and very regrettable that she allegedly ended her own life.

[Zacs-Master]

We know she was a church goer, kept a very tidy house in a quiet neighbourhood, was divorced, had a son 20, was educated at a convent school (so was presumably Catholic). All of which probably have no bearing whatsoever on the circumstances of her death.

[hc4361]

It is very sad and I am pointing my finger of blame firmly at the media who saw fit to 'out' her rather than let the police deal with it.

I am not excusing her behaviour - it was despicable - but I have no time for trial by media.

[Henrietta]

Aah okay I see what you mean now HC4361.

Does anyone know whether the reporter who outed her can be taken to court for this?

[Psybbo]

Why?

[Henrietta]

I'm not sure psybbo as am not familiar with the laws regarding interference into police investigations by reporters IF that's what happened.

Then again she appears to just be a normal person from a normal family.

Maybe if she was an mp/A celebrity/Royalty with access to powerful lawyers there might be a case to answer for then again perhaps not.

[ladybirder]

She obviously couldn't live with the shame. When I watched it I did wonder how she was going to get over the humiliation. I don't have any sympathy. Some of the things she wrote were vile, although not the worst; at least she didn't threaten violence. My sympathy goes to her 20 year old son.

[hc4361]

As already said on this thread, I have read very similar comments about the McCanns' on here.

[kvalidir]

//'' how rotten her life must have been '' well we don't actually know anything about this woman's life do we ?//

That's very true Anne we don't know anything about her life, but I'm trying very hard to envisage a happy person doing something such as she was accused of, and no matter how hard I try I simply can't. Now that may be me lacking sufficient imagination, but I think people hurt other people when they are hurt, angry or sad themselves- usually, hence my choice of words.

[jno]

I notice the Guardian report includes a note of the Samaritans number at the end (I think the Guardian usually does this).

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/05/body-found-brenda-leyland-madeleine-mccann-trolling-claims

I don't know what this woman did - _ I've only seen one quote attributed to her and it wasn't particularly horrible - but it seems she's been hounded to death.

[ChillDoubt]

http://news.sky.com/story/1345871/evil-trolls-in-hate-campaign-against-mccanns