"I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
Page 1 of 1 • Share
"I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by Tony Bennett 06.10.15 0:33
“I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from supporters of the McCann Campaign", says Kerry Needham in tonight's internet edition of the Daily Mirror, in an article headlined:
Ben Needham's mum hits back at Madeleine McCann's parents as they shut Twitter account due to 'trolls'
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ben-needhams-mum-hits-back-6580099#ICID=sharebar_facebook
+++++++++++++++
Ben Needham's mum has said she is "shocked and hurt" after Madeleine McCann's parents have closed down a Twitter account after “toxic” abuse by supporters of missing Ben's family.
Kate and Gerry said it was “a great pity” they had to take the action but felt negative postings were hampering the worldwide hunt for their daughter.
Kerry Needham said: “It feels like a personal attack on me. It is deeply, deeply hurtful.
“I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from supporters of the McCann Campaign in the past but I have never taken that personally.
“It’s freedom of speech. But it is getting the names of two missing children out there which is really important.
Missing boy Ben Needham, disappeared in Kos, Greece in 1991.
“I have never criticised the McCann family. I have only every criticised the authorities for the way the two cases have been handled so differently.”
Trouble erupted with the Twitter accounts when the official ‘@findmadeleine’ Twitter feed blocked the ‘@FindBenNeedham’ account at the weekend.
Kate McCann and her husband Gerry McCann have made the decision to shut the Twitter feed. The Greek account @findbengreek was also blocked.
A few hours later both accounts were unblocked after an outcry but now the Madeleine feed has been closed down.
Kerry added: “People were furious at the weekend when they blocked our campaign, so of course they were bound to get more negative comments.
“Ben’s campaign has never been anti McCann - we can’t help the fact that some members of the public give their opinion about the McCann case just the same as people give their opinion about Ben’s case.”
The web chief who runs the official Find Madeleine Campaign and Twitter, endorsed by the McCanns, said of their decision: “They agree it’s time to remove ourselves from a place that allows so much toxic content to be directed at us and does not permit us the ability to protect ourselves from people who want to damage the search for Madeleine.”
Kerry Needham recently questioned the vast amount of British taxpayers’ money spent by police looking for Maddie.
So far £10.1 million has been spent by Operation Grange with a further £2 million pledged while less than £800,000 has been spent on the campaign to find Ben.
Kerry’s 21-month-old son Ben vanished in July 1991 from the Greek island of Kos.
Three-year-old Maddie disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Both families believe their children could still be alive.
McCann family spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry have always supported the campaign to find Ben Needham.
"Indeed, they have promoted it on the Find Madeleine Campaign social media platform.
“However, it is a great pity that due to continued, ill informed and abusive comments by some social media users, the decision was made to close the Find Madeleine Twitter account.
“Kate and Gerry continue to wish Kerry Needham the best and hope that one day she will be reunited with Ben, just as they continue to hope that they will similarly be reunited with Madeleine.”
A source close to Maddie’s parents said closing down a Twitter account because of abuse should not be seen as an attack on Ben’s family’s side.
Former GP Kate and heart doctor Gerry, both 47, of Rothley, Leics, made the decision to shut down Twitter despite not being social media users themselves.
The Facebook campaign will continue to run.
The un-named Campaign “webmaster”, a mum who has been running the site with a group of fellow supporters since 2008, posted on Facebook: “I convinced Kate and Gerry it was a great way to raise awareness and I have witnessed overwhelming kindness.
“I have been dismayed, however, at some of the hatred and sheer viciousness directed at Kate and Gerry through our social media accounts for no logical reason at all. At times, it has had me in tears.
“It is hard to accept that some people can be so cruel to a family that has already experienced the worst pain imaginable. Some argue the search costs too much, others say it’s hopeless.
“Further, in the past three weeks on Twitter, we have found ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being expected to “follow” people who align themselves with accounts that abuse us in the most vile ways on a regular basis.
“Deleting our Twitter account is the only option left to protect ourselves and the search for Madeleine.
"She is what is important, and our job is to get her home. We believe Madeleine is alive and we have great faith in The Met.”
But Ben’s mum Kerry, 43, from Sheffield, who has met Kate at official missing people events, said: “Blaming their decision to close their account on our followers could damage our campaign.
“People are allowed to give their opinion. In the UK we are are a team of three people, checking Facebook, Twitter and Ben’s website.
“How can we vet every single comment on there - it’s impossible.
“We can’t stop people’s opinion and I will not be drawn into a slagging match with the two campaigns.
“All I can say is that Ben’s campaign has never been anti McCann.”
Ben’s gran, Christine, 63, agreed, adding: “At the end of the day two children who are missing are the important ones.
“It’s all about keeping Ben’s name out there and alive.
“I think the use of the word toxic is upsetting. Our supporters are not toxic - they just care.
“We all have to take whatever is thrown at us.
“We can’t as a family be responsible for other people’s views.”
Ben Needham's mum hits back at Madeleine McCann's parents as they shut Twitter account due to 'trolls'
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ben-needhams-mum-hits-back-6580099#ICID=sharebar_facebook
+++++++++++++++
Ben Needham's mum has said she is "shocked and hurt" after Madeleine McCann's parents have closed down a Twitter account after “toxic” abuse by supporters of missing Ben's family.
Kate and Gerry said it was “a great pity” they had to take the action but felt negative postings were hampering the worldwide hunt for their daughter.
Kerry Needham said: “It feels like a personal attack on me. It is deeply, deeply hurtful.
“I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from supporters of the McCann Campaign in the past but I have never taken that personally.
“It’s freedom of speech. But it is getting the names of two missing children out there which is really important.
Missing boy Ben Needham, disappeared in Kos, Greece in 1991.
“I have never criticised the McCann family. I have only every criticised the authorities for the way the two cases have been handled so differently.”
Trouble erupted with the Twitter accounts when the official ‘@findmadeleine’ Twitter feed blocked the ‘@FindBenNeedham’ account at the weekend.
Kate McCann and her husband Gerry McCann have made the decision to shut the Twitter feed. The Greek account @findbengreek was also blocked.
A few hours later both accounts were unblocked after an outcry but now the Madeleine feed has been closed down.
Kerry added: “People were furious at the weekend when they blocked our campaign, so of course they were bound to get more negative comments.
“Ben’s campaign has never been anti McCann - we can’t help the fact that some members of the public give their opinion about the McCann case just the same as people give their opinion about Ben’s case.”
The web chief who runs the official Find Madeleine Campaign and Twitter, endorsed by the McCanns, said of their decision: “They agree it’s time to remove ourselves from a place that allows so much toxic content to be directed at us and does not permit us the ability to protect ourselves from people who want to damage the search for Madeleine.”
Kerry Needham recently questioned the vast amount of British taxpayers’ money spent by police looking for Maddie.
So far £10.1 million has been spent by Operation Grange with a further £2 million pledged while less than £800,000 has been spent on the campaign to find Ben.
Kerry’s 21-month-old son Ben vanished in July 1991 from the Greek island of Kos.
Three-year-old Maddie disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Both families believe their children could still be alive.
McCann family spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry have always supported the campaign to find Ben Needham.
"Indeed, they have promoted it on the Find Madeleine Campaign social media platform.
“However, it is a great pity that due to continued, ill informed and abusive comments by some social media users, the decision was made to close the Find Madeleine Twitter account.
“Kate and Gerry continue to wish Kerry Needham the best and hope that one day she will be reunited with Ben, just as they continue to hope that they will similarly be reunited with Madeleine.”
A source close to Maddie’s parents said closing down a Twitter account because of abuse should not be seen as an attack on Ben’s family’s side.
Former GP Kate and heart doctor Gerry, both 47, of Rothley, Leics, made the decision to shut down Twitter despite not being social media users themselves.
The Facebook campaign will continue to run.
The un-named Campaign “webmaster”, a mum who has been running the site with a group of fellow supporters since 2008, posted on Facebook: “I convinced Kate and Gerry it was a great way to raise awareness and I have witnessed overwhelming kindness.
“I have been dismayed, however, at some of the hatred and sheer viciousness directed at Kate and Gerry through our social media accounts for no logical reason at all. At times, it has had me in tears.
“It is hard to accept that some people can be so cruel to a family that has already experienced the worst pain imaginable. Some argue the search costs too much, others say it’s hopeless.
“Further, in the past three weeks on Twitter, we have found ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being expected to “follow” people who align themselves with accounts that abuse us in the most vile ways on a regular basis.
“Deleting our Twitter account is the only option left to protect ourselves and the search for Madeleine.
"She is what is important, and our job is to get her home. We believe Madeleine is alive and we have great faith in The Met.”
But Ben’s mum Kerry, 43, from Sheffield, who has met Kate at official missing people events, said: “Blaming their decision to close their account on our followers could damage our campaign.
“People are allowed to give their opinion. In the UK we are are a team of three people, checking Facebook, Twitter and Ben’s website.
“How can we vet every single comment on there - it’s impossible.
“We can’t stop people’s opinion and I will not be drawn into a slagging match with the two campaigns.
“All I can say is that Ben’s campaign has never been anti McCann.”
Ben’s gran, Christine, 63, agreed, adding: “At the end of the day two children who are missing are the important ones.
“It’s all about keeping Ben’s name out there and alive.
“I think the use of the word toxic is upsetting. Our supporters are not toxic - they just care.
“We all have to take whatever is thrown at us.
“We can’t as a family be responsible for other people’s views.”
____________________
Dr Martin Roberts: "The evidence is that these are the pjyamas Madeleine wore on holiday in Praia da Luz. They were photographed and the photo handed to a press agency, who released it on 8 May, as the search for Madeleine continued. The McCanns held up these same pyjamas at two press conferences on 5 & 7June 2007. How could Madeleine have been abducted?"
Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".
Tony Bennett- Investigator
- Posts : 16926
Activity : 24792
Likes received : 3749
Join date : 2009-11-25
Age : 77
Location : Shropshire
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by loopzdaloop 06.10.15 1:17
Kerry does have a point if Operation Grange was a missing persons case, however it is clear by the differences that (thankfully) it is not.
loopzdaloop- Posts : 389
Activity : 481
Likes received : 60
Join date : 2013-02-01
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by ROSA 06.10.15 5:33
Kate and Gerry said it was “a great pity” they had to take the action but felt negative postings were hampering the worldwide hunt for their daughter.
Worldwide hunt who do they think they are dream on
I feel sorry for Kerry not as much has been done to find her son there will always be negative postings K&G get over yourselves
Worldwide hunt who do they think they are dream on
I feel sorry for Kerry not as much has been done to find her son there will always be negative postings K&G get over yourselves
____________________
For Paulo Sargento, the thesis that Gonçalo Amaral revealed at first hand to "SP" that the blanket could have been used in a funeral ceremony at the Luz chapel "is very interesting".
And he adds: "In reality, when the McCanns went to Oprah's Show, the blanket was mentioned. At a given moment, when Oprah tells Kate that she heard her mention a blanket several times, Kate argued that a mother who misses a child always wants to know if she is comfortable, if she is warm, and added, referring to Maddie, that sometimes she asked herself if the person who had taken her would cover her up with her little blanket (but the blanket was on the bed after Maddie, supposedly, disappeared!!!).
ROSA- Posts : 1436
Activity : 2120
Likes received : 101
Join date : 2011-04-19
Location : Dunedin New Zealand
Ben Needham campaign and missing Madeleine McCann-Twitter
by willowthewisp 06.10.15 11:52
It seems funny once again, that a huge amount of MSM interest regard to missing Madeleine, eg September 2014, Dossier handed to BHH and the defamation claim from Mr & Mrs McCann, hounding of Mrs Brenda Leyland by Sky and **nt to likely appeal hearing October 2015?
Now we have the infamous couple spit the dody out over the (FindBenneedham) campaign highlighting a funding discrepancy of the two missing persons cases, Ben £800,000 Madeleine £12,000,000 and the associated comments from Police federation activists, quoting underfunding of UK Police operations, National Security?
Have "Operation Grange" changed their mind of the remit, Abduction to a different kind of investigation or as DCI Andy Redwood stated the possibility of a different scenario, CrimeWatch October 2013, two years ago?
Now we have the infamous couple spit the dody out over the (FindBenneedham) campaign highlighting a funding discrepancy of the two missing persons cases, Ben £800,000 Madeleine £12,000,000 and the associated comments from Police federation activists, quoting underfunding of UK Police operations, National Security?
Have "Operation Grange" changed their mind of the remit, Abduction to a different kind of investigation or as DCI Andy Redwood stated the possibility of a different scenario, CrimeWatch October 2013, two years ago?
willowthewisp- Posts : 3392
Activity : 4912
Likes received : 1160
Join date : 2015-05-07
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by plebgate 06.10.15 14:11
It could be that I am being very slow in understanding what this is all about - but could someone please explain to me how the search for Maddie is being harmed?
A further two million pounds in funding - up to Spring next year - was recently announced.
How is the search for Maddie being harmed when two police forces and a sum of probably over £12 million pounds of tax payers' money will have been used in the search for the truth?
Sorry, but whoever thought of using this as an excuse to call people trolls for voicing their opinions, has done them no favours IMO.
Like everything else it makes no sense whatever to me. DUH.
A further two million pounds in funding - up to Spring next year - was recently announced.
How is the search for Maddie being harmed when two police forces and a sum of probably over £12 million pounds of tax payers' money will have been used in the search for the truth?
Sorry, but whoever thought of using this as an excuse to call people trolls for voicing their opinions, has done them no favours IMO.
Like everything else it makes no sense whatever to me. DUH.
plebgate- Posts : 6729
Activity : 8938
Likes received : 2123
Join date : 2013-02-01
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by aiyoyo 06.10.15 14:27
How can comments on twitter harm the search? They are but opinions of skeptics, viewing restricted to following members of tweet account holder, and not viewed by the world and his dog.
They want the public to keep looking so why did they not release the e-fits in their possession back then?
It's them who are hampering the search.
It's them who couldn't care less ...
They are taking the piss too far.
They want the public to keep looking so why did they not release the e-fits in their possession back then?
It's them who are hampering the search.
It's them who couldn't care less ...
They are taking the piss too far.
aiyoyo- Posts : 9610
Activity : 10084
Likes received : 326
Join date : 2009-11-28
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by plebgate 06.10.15 14:33
Do TM really believe that two police forces will be taking any notice of so-called trolls on twitter?
It makes no sense to me, it really doesn't.
It makes no sense to me, it really doesn't.
plebgate- Posts : 6729
Activity : 8938
Likes received : 2123
Join date : 2013-02-01
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by Guest 06.10.15 15:24
As a matter of interest, can anyone that follows this charade tell me - has the McCann twitter account really been bombarded with slanderous tweets from Needham supporters?
Guest- Guest
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by Jill Havern 06.10.15 15:26
I think they probably mean the McCann hashtag.Verdi wrote:As a matter of interest, can anyone that follows this charade tell me - has the McCann twitter account really been bombarded with slanderous tweets from Needham supporters?
You know, the one where the McCann supporters use spambots and post porn to deter McCann sceptics from posting.
____________________
PeterMac's FREE e-book
Gonçalo Amaral: The truth of the lie
CMOMM & MMRG Blog
MAGA 
MBGA
Jill Havern- Chief Faffer, Forum Owner
- Posts : 31121
Activity : 43935
Likes received : 7758
Join date : 2009-11-25
Location : Parallel universe -
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by aiyoyo 06.10.15 15:45
Get'emGonçalo wrote:I think they probably mean the McCann hashtag.Verdi wrote:As a matter of interest, can anyone that follows this charade tell me - has the McCann twitter account really been bombarded with slanderous tweets from Needham supporters?
You know, the one where the McCann supporters use spambots and post porn to deter McCann sceptics from posting.
Duh, they created it (twitter account) in the first place to counter "trolls" errr... I mean anti-them comments and now want to withdraw when they cannot win the battle or overcome the negative comments. Their effort to eradicate trolls (anti them kinds) making up dossier for Police that took casualty backfired on them and now they are left with no option but to fight the battle themselves since the Police won't do zilch about trolls.
aiyoyo- Posts : 9610
Activity : 10084
Likes received : 326
Join date : 2009-11-28
Re: "I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from SUPPORTERS OF THE MCCANN CAMPAIGN" - Kerry Needham, quoted in the Daily Mirror tonight, 5 Oct 2015
by Jill Havern 06.10.15 16:38
http://thesteepletimes.com/the-fog/hero-of-the-hour-kerry-needham/
Hero of the Hour: Kerry Needham
Hero of the Hour: Kerry Needham
Hero of the Hour: Kerry Needham
Kerry Needham speaks for the nation in calling for more help for parents of missing children (other than just Madeleine McCann)
Kerry Needham’s son Ben has been missing since 1991; Gerry and Kate McCann’s daughter Madeleine has been missing since 2007. £10.1 million has been spent on the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance (and a further £2 million has been pledged); just £800,000 has been spent on the campaign to find Ben.
Hero of the Hour: Kerry Needham
Nobody in their right mind would suggest that either child deserves anything but justice (and the right to hopefully be found alive), but what shines through is that the respective campaigns have been treated so very differently by the authorities and the media. Kerry Needham is an ordinary lady with few connections; Gerry and Kate McCann count the “Chanel-clad” Lady Meyer and the hapless Home Secretary Theresa May amongst their supporters.
On Monday, however, Ms Needham told The Mirror she was “shocked and hurt” after the McCanns closed a Twitter account campaigning for their daughter and cited the reason for doing so to be based upon actions by supporters of missing Ben’s family.
Needham commented: “It feels like a personal attack on me. It is deeply, deeply hurtful. I have myself had massive amounts of slanderous abuse from supporters of the McCann campaign in the past but I have never taken that personally. It’s freedom of speech. But it is getting the names of two missing children out there which is really important”.
She is right. It is time Theresa May got her priorities in order and it is time that she accepted that such vast resources should not be devoted to finding just one child. The many other missing matter also and someone other than the lone voice of Kerry Needham should be shouting that from the rooftops.
____________________
PeterMac's FREE e-book
Gonçalo Amaral: The truth of the lie
CMOMM & MMRG Blog
MAGA MBGA
Jill Havern- Chief Faffer, Forum Owner
- Posts : 31121
Activity : 43935
Likes received : 7758
Join date : 2009-11-25
Location : Parallel universe -
Similar topics» NEW! 23 Oct - BEN NEEDHAM - Family of Konstantinos Barkas to sue Kerry Needham for wanting Barkas to "Burn in hell" [Sunday Mirror]
» Lifeguards under pressure because parents think their missing children "might be the next Madeleine McCann or Ben Needham" - Daily Mirror report, 1 Nov 2016
» Why would the Ambassador for Missing People block Ben Needham Twitter account?
» I’m Kate McCann’s worst nightmare by Kerry Needham
» "A journalist 'phoned me at 6.00am, Friday 4 May, to talk about Madeleine McCann" - Kerry Needham
» Lifeguards under pressure because parents think their missing children "might be the next Madeleine McCann or Ben Needham" - Daily Mirror report, 1 Nov 2016
» Why would the Ambassador for Missing People block Ben Needham Twitter account?
» I’m Kate McCann’s worst nightmare by Kerry Needham
» "A journalist 'phoned me at 6.00am, Friday 4 May, to talk about Madeleine McCann" - Kerry Needham
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
