|
|
|
|
|
The decision was taken by parents Gerry
and Kate McCann because of the "hatred
and sheer viciousness" directed at the
family on the site |
 |
|
Missing: Campaigners have
worked to find Madeleine
McCann since she vanished in
2007 |
|
|
|
|
The official
Twitter
account of
the Find
Madeleine
campaign has
been taken
down because
of
'continuous
abuse and
negativity'
from online
trolls.
The decision
was made by
Maddie's
parents
Gerry and
Kate McCann
in the
aftermath of
a row with
the Find Ben
Needham
Twitter
account.
The Find
Maddie
account
blocked the
Ben Needham
campaign on
Twitter,
saying "We
do not want
to be
associated
with some of
the types of
people they
(@FindBen
Needham)
follow."
Ben
Needham's
mum has
previously
criticised
the money
spent by
police on
the search
for
Madeleine
compared to
her son -
who
disappeared
in Greece 24
years ago -
and other
missing
children. |
 |
|
Abuse: Kate and Gerry McCann are said to have suffered "toxic" abuse |
| |
|
|
Just hours
after
blocking the
account, a
statement
was posted
on the 'Find
Madeleine'
Facebook
account
saying the
campaign
would remove
itself from
the 'toxic'
social media
site.
The
statement
said: "After
talking with
Kate and
Gerry
yesterday,
we have
decided to
delete our
Twitter
account and
focus on
Facebook.
"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. |
| |
 |
|
Find Madeleine @findmadeleine
After talking with Kate and Gerry yesterday, we have decided to delete our Twitter account. They agree it's time... http://fb.me/75glqG5V5
1:07 PM - 5 Oct 2015 |
| |
|
Find Madeleine @findmadeleine
Due to the continuous abuse and negativity on Twitter, we will be removing our account within the next few days.
11:32 PM - 4 Oct 2015 |
| |
|
|
"When I
started our
Facebook and
Twitter
accounts in
2008, I
convinced
Kate and
Gerry it was
a great way
to raise
awareness.
Since that
time, I have
witnessed
overwhelming
kindness.
There is no
doubt that
the good far
outweigh the
bad.
"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.
|
| |
|
"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.
"I believe
individuals
and social
media
accounts who
do not block
people who
abuse others
are
condoning
that abuse
and
providing a
platform for
it. |
 |
| Search: Met Police officers are continuing their search for Maddie in Portugal |
|
|
|
|
"As a
result,
deleting our
Twitter
account is
the only
option left
to protect
ourselves
and the
search for
Madeleine.
Madeleine
has been
missing
since 2007
when she
vanished
from her
family's
holiday
apartment in
Praia da
Luz,
Portugal.
Home Office
minister
Lord Bates
recently
revealed up
to the end
of June
£10.1million
had been
spent on the
search. |
 |
|
Scene: Maddie vanished in Praia da Luz in 2007 |
| |
|
|
And the
department
has planned
for extra
funds of at
least
£2million to
cover the
case over
the next 12
months.
Last year
Metropolitan
Police
officers
were sent to
Praia da Luz
to further
investigate
her
disappearance. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
