This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brenda-leyland-dead-sky-news-faces-online-backlash-following-death-of-madeleine-mccann-parents-troll-9776369.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brenda Leyland dead: Martin Brunt and Sky News faces online backlash following death of Madeleine McCann parents' 'troll' | Brenda Leyland dead: Martin Brunt and Sky News faces online backlash following death of Madeleine McCann parents' 'troll' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sky News is facing an online backlash following the death of a woman accused of being an internet troll who has been found dead. | Sky News is facing an online backlash following the death of a woman accused of being an internet troll who has been found dead. |
| Brenda Leyland, 63, was identified as one of a number of "trolls" posting abusive messages aimed at Gerry and Kate McCann, whose daughter went missing in Portugal in 2007. | Brenda Leyland, 63, was identified as one of a number of "trolls" posting abusive messages aimed at Gerry and Kate McCann, whose daughter went missing in Portugal in 2007. |
| Mrs Leyland was found dead in a Leicestershire hotel on Saturday. Police have said the death is not being treated as suspicious and have not commented on any connection between the two incidents. | |
| Last week Mrs Leyland was tracked down to her home in Burton Overy, Leicestershire, by Sky News and confronted by reporter Martin Brunt about her online activities. | Last week Mrs Leyland was tracked down to her home in Burton Overy, Leicestershire, by Sky News and confronted by reporter Martin Brunt about her online activities. |
| Mr Brunt asked Mrs Leyland why she was using a Twitter account to attack the McCanns, to which she replied: "I'm entitled to do that." | Mr Brunt asked Mrs Leyland why she was using a Twitter account to attack the McCanns, to which she replied: "I'm entitled to do that." |
| The encounter was shown earlier this week, and days later, it was reported she had fled her home. | The encounter was shown earlier this week, and days later, it was reported she had fled her home. |
| Abhorrent hounding of a Woman who's mental strength was obviously unimportant to you. Shame on @Skynews @skymartinbrunt RIP #BrendaLeyland | Abhorrent hounding of a Woman who's mental strength was obviously unimportant to you. Shame on @Skynews @skymartinbrunt RIP #BrendaLeyland |
| - Sarah Thomas (@ArsenalSarah) October 5, 2014 | - Sarah Thomas (@ArsenalSarah) October 5, 2014 |
| Whether Brenda Leyland was a troll or not, I don't think she was, the case reflects very badly on the professionalism of Sky News. | Whether Brenda Leyland was a troll or not, I don't think she was, the case reflects very badly on the professionalism of Sky News. |
| Some Twitter users have now criticised Sky News for the report. | Some Twitter users have now criticised Sky News for the report. |
| One Twitter user wrote: "Abhorrent hounding of a Woman who's mental strength was obviously unimportant to you. Shame on @Skynews @skymartinbrunt RIP #BrendaLeyland". | One Twitter user wrote: "Abhorrent hounding of a Woman who's mental strength was obviously unimportant to you. Shame on @Skynews @skymartinbrunt RIP #BrendaLeyland". |
| A Sky spokesman today told The Independent: "We were saddened to hear of the death of Brenda Leyland. It would be inappropriate to speculate or comment further at this time." | A Sky spokesman today told The Independent: "We were saddened to hear of the death of Brenda Leyland. It would be inappropriate to speculate or comment further at this time." |
| Leicestershire Police have said officers were called at 1.42pm on Saturday to reports of a woman's body in a hotel room. | Leicestershire Police have said officers were called at 1.42pm on Saturday to reports of a woman's body in a hotel room. |
| A police spokesman said: "Officers have attended the scene and a file is being prepared for the coroner. | A police spokesman said: "Officers have attended the scene and a file is being prepared for the coroner. |
| "Identification of the deceased is a matter for the coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious." | "Identification of the deceased is a matter for the coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious." |