Martin Brunt Confronts Twitter "Troll"

Carobees3 wrote:Good morning - long time reader (years) - and finally poster......

I was alerted to the very sad death of Brenda Leyland on LBC this morning.  The presenter Nick Ferarri read out all the tweets published by Sky as if they had all been sent by Mrs Leyland.  I have emailed him and pointed out that she was not a 'troll', and that the 'vile' comments were not sent by her.  It is shameful and cheap journalism at its very worst. 

Following Tony Bennett's link I have complained to Ofcom, and will now complain to IPSO, and anywhere else where it might make a difference. 


Thanks to all who make this a worthwhile forum, (although I wish it didn't need to exist) and that the perpetrators of the crime against Madeleine are arrested very soon.

Rogue-a-Tory wrote:

HelenMeg wrote:Rogue a Tory  - you say that people are thinking about this and wondering why someone from middle England thinks so strongly over the Madeleine case.

I think that people are thinking (due to MSM reporting in general) that there are some vile people out there who are abusing the Mc Canns online - poor Mc Canns. There are many reader comments that back up my thinking - what backs up your thinking? Yes I' d like to believe you but there is a huge band of people that simply believe in neglect / abduction and internet trolls.

I think you are being optimistic although maybe I'm just overly pessimistic today.

Agreed that people will be taken in by the MSM reporting of this. That's been there all along though with Madeleine. But I believe that there will be many people who may not have previously thought to deeply about this will be wondering why these people, from what appears to be a non-confrontational background, have been taking an extreme stance.

On Friday or over the weekend people will have been thinking poor McCann's - again. But today, I'm believing that attitude is different. I seriously don't believe that Brenda Leyland fitted the sterotypical view of a troll and am hopeful that will be the stimulus to debate or better still some action. After all, how many are complaining to regulatory authorities this morning? Plus ther has to be an investigation into the tragic death of Brenda.

stillsloppingout wrote:The only thing we can hope for now is balance , This is going to be difficult especially at this time but for the sake of there mothers memory , her children must be strong , come forward and explain to the media that there mother WAS NOT A TROLL OR MONSTER OR VILE , she was just a person who has formed her opinion re this case , Then they should explain why she arrived at her opinion , and then ask for the evidence of her VILE posts to be produced .

Finally sue the national press and Sky etc , for everything they have got for slander , defimation of character etc .

If Brenda's family are strong , and keep there cool and do the above , they will vindicate there Mother , restore her name , and blow open this case , to the masses once and for all .

I really hope they have the strength to do this . it is the only hope for any justice . you owe it to your mothers memory . fight back we are all behind you .

plebgate wrote:

stillsloppingout wrote:The only thing we can hope for now is balance , This is going to be difficult especially at this time but for the sake of there mothers memory , her children must be strong , come forward and explain to the media that there mother WAS NOT A TROLL OR MONSTER OR VILE , she was just a person who has formed her opinion re this case , Then they should explain why she arrived at her opinion , and then ask for the evidence of her VILE posts to be produced .

Finally sue the national press and Sky etc , for everything they have got for slander , defimation of character etc .

If Brenda's family are strong , and keep there cool and do the above , they will vindicate there Mother , restore her name , and blow open this case , to the masses once and for all .

I really hope they have the strength to do this . it is the only hope for any justice . you owe it to your mothers memory . fight back we are all behind you .

Yes, we are all behind them, time for the little people to fight back.   This is an absolute disgrace.

sally66 wrote:

plebgate wrote:

stillsloppingout wrote:The only thing we can hope for now is balance , This is going to be difficult especially at this time but for the sake of there mothers memory , her children must be strong , come forward and explain to the media that there mother WAS NOT A TROLL OR MONSTER OR VILE , she was just a person who has formed her opinion re this case , Then they should explain why she arrived at her opinion , and then ask for the evidence of her VILE posts to be produced .

Finally sue the national press and Sky etc , for everything they have got for slander , defimation of character etc .

If Brenda's family are strong , and keep there cool and do the above , they will vindicate there Mother , restore her name , and blow open this case , to the masses once and for all .

I really hope they have the strength to do this . it is the only hope for any justice . you owe it to your mothers memory . fight back we are all behind you .

Yes, we are all behind them, time for the little people to fight back.   This is an absolute disgrace.

Totally agree 

I have been thinking about Brenda and her family constantly since this has happened and how her memory deserves justice.

Brenda was well aware of what GA and others have been through and that's the reason the majority of doubters   keep their identity anonymous.

aquila wrote:It would be interesting to know if SY/OG/CPS will release their findings on Brenda Leyland's tweets. I'd like to know whether they did indeed look into this 'dossier' and I'd like to know if they considered what BL wrote to be a criminal offence and what their intentions were i.e. to prosecute/caution/no case to answer.

I'd like to know what precise actions were taken to investigate this 'dossier'.

In the Sky News doorstepping, all-day extravaganza- Brunt informs BL she's been reported to Scotland Yard.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda prior to Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda after Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been approached/made any comment to Sky News prior to their interview.

I hope these things will become clear at the inquest.

If I am able, I will attend the inquest.

thetruthbeknown wrote:So upset to hear the news, so very tragic and unnecessary. I have always hated 'expose' type of journalism, especially when the circumstances surrounding it are not fully represented, or are just completely unjustified. I stand in hope that this will bring the whole of this kind of doorstepping into debate. If the police thought there was any kind of crime committed, or a factual basis to the accusations then it was for them to act, not some jumped up doorstep journalist. Although I think in the forthcoming days we will be subject to stories and headlines like 'trolls ruined my life' etc etc, to counteract the growing concern of the unjustifiable 'outing' by Sky of Brenda. There has been many people who have been targetted by trolls (Im not suggesting that Brenda warranted that title) whose 'troll' was not doorstepped by sky news. I fail to understand why this lady was picked out and given such treatment.

Silverspeed wrote:I believe i just heard on radio 2 that they will be discussing this on the Jeremy Vine show presently. Dare i listen

Silverspeed wrote:I believe i just heard on radio 2 that they will be discussing this on the Jeremy Vine show presently. Dare i listen

ChippyM wrote:[
I'm not sure there will be an inquest,  if her death was suicide and is therefore explainable there is not really a likely-hood of an inquest as far as I'm aware. Whether the family could request it or even want to I suppose that's another matter.

ChippyM wrote:

aquila wrote:It would be interesting to know if SY/OG/CPS will release their findings on Brenda Leyland's tweets. I'd like to know whether they did indeed look into this 'dossier' and I'd like to know if they considered what BL wrote to be a criminal offence and what their intentions were i.e. to prosecute/caution/no case to answer.

I'd like to know what precise actions were taken to investigate this 'dossier'.

In the Sky News doorstepping, all-day extravaganza- Brunt informs BL she's been reported to Scotland Yard.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda prior to Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda after Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been approached/made any comment to Sky News prior to their interview.

I hope these things will become clear at the inquest.

If I am able, I will attend the inquest.

I'm not sure there will be an inquest,  if her death was suicide and is therefore explainable there is not really a likely-hood of an inquest as far as I'm aware. Whether the family could request it or even want to I suppose that's another matter.

stillsloppingout wrote:

She was targeted because they had worked out [ church going etc , and by reading her posts both in the real world and her allias ] that she was a soft target . sadly also vulnarable .

Do you think Brunty would have doorstepped a tattood  6ft 7 builder , or a member of the ethnic community !!! ? NO.
She was white, middle class ,aged ,could not fight back  ticked all the boxes.

tiny wrote:

Silverspeed wrote:I believe i just heard on radio 2 that they will be discussing this on the Jeremy Vine show presently. Dare i listen

Nah don't waste your time they are all backtracking,and you will not hear any think like the truth.

ChippyM wrote:

aquila wrote:It would be interesting to know if SY/OG/CPS will release their findings on Brenda Leyland's tweets. I'd like to know whether they did indeed look into this 'dossier' and I'd like to know if they considered what BL wrote to be a criminal offence and what their intentions were i.e. to prosecute/caution/no case to answer.

I'd like to know what precise actions were taken to investigate this 'dossier'.

In the Sky News doorstepping, all-day extravaganza- Brunt informs BL she's been reported to Scotland Yard.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda prior to Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been in contact with Brenda after Sky News' speaking to her.

I'd like to know if SY/OG had been approached/made any comment to Sky News prior to their interview.

I hope these things will become clear at the inquest.

If I am able, I will attend the inquest.

I'm not sure there will be an inquest,  if her death was suicide and is therefore explainable there is not really a likely-hood of an inquest as far as I'm aware. Whether the family could request it or even want to I suppose that's another matter.

thetruthbeknown wrote:So upset to hear the news, so very tragic and unnecessary. I have always hated 'expose' type of journalism, especially when the circumstances surrounding it are not fully represented, or are just completely unjustified. I stand in hope that this will bring the whole of this kind of doorstepping into debate. If the police thought there was any kind of crime committed, or a factual basis to the accusations then it was for them to act, not some jumped up doorstep journalist. Although I think in the forthcoming days we will be subject to stories and headlines like 'trolls ruined my life' etc etc, to counteract the growing concern of the unjustifiable 'outing' by Sky of Brenda. There has been many people who have been targetted by trolls (Im not suggesting that Brenda warranted that title) whose 'troll' was not doorstepped by sky news. I fail to understand why this lady was picked out and given such treatment.

Bishop Brennan wrote:

ChippyM wrote:[
I'm not sure there will be an inquest,  if her death was suicide and is therefore explainable there is not really a likely-hood of an inquest as far as I'm aware. Whether the family could request it or even want to I suppose that's another matter.

There is always an inquest after a suicide.  It may be quite short and last just an hour or two, but it will take place.  

plebgate wrote:

sally66 wrote:

plebgate wrote:

stillsloppingout wrote:The only thing we can hope for now is balance , This is going to be difficult especially at this time but for the sake of there mothers memory , her children must be strong , come forward and explain to the media that there mother WAS NOT A TROLL OR MONSTER OR VILE , she was just a person who has formed her opinion re this case , Then they should explain why she arrived at her opinion , and then ask for the evidence of her VILE posts to be produced .

Finally sue the national press and Sky etc , for everything they have got for slander , defimation of character etc .

If Brenda's family are strong , and keep there cool and do the above , they will vindicate there Mother , restore her name , and blow open this case , to the masses once and for all .

I really hope they have the strength to do this . it is the only hope for any justice . you owe it to your mothers memory . fight back we are all behind you .

Yes, we are all behind them, time for the little people to fight back.   This is an absolute disgrace.

Totally agree 

I have been thinking about Brenda and her family constantly since this has happened and how her memory deserves justice.

Brenda was well aware of what GA and others have been through and that's the reason the majority of doubters   keep their identity anonymous.

As we all know too Sally, Tony was threatened with prison and he has paid a very high price for speaking out.  I still believe more and more will start joining and speaking out after this shocking turn of events.

As someone else posted, keep the posts polite and question what has been said.  there AS YET, is no law against that.

Silverspeed wrote:I believe i just heard on radio 2 that they will be discussing this on the Jeremy Vine show presently. Dare i listen

Tony Bennett wrote:The tweets of Tony Evans of The Times for the record:

=======================================


Really upset to see that the McCann's twitter troll is dead. We need to find the facts but there are a couple of things worth talking about

She was wrong to send bile-filled tweets to the McCanns. They have suffered enough

But was her abuse bad enough for her to be singled out and put on national television?

A wise journalist once said to me: 'imagine what you're writing was about you? Family and friends would see it. Does the person deserve it?'

He went on. 'You write it and think nothing of it. That person has to live with it. Everyone they know will be talking about it'

If this stupid woman has committed suicide (and I hope there's no connection) I wouldn't like to have been the person involved in the piece

But the point I'm making - on a night my column is about Roy Keane - is think about it. Does the person you criticise deserve it

Are they equipped for it? The McCann woman wasn't. You could see that from the Sky News film. If it was a police issue, fine

Let the police deal with it and then point the cameras.