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| Brenda Leyland dead: Martin Brunt and Sky News face online backlash following death of Madeleine McCann parents' 'troll' | Brenda Leyland dead: Martin Brunt and Sky News face online backlash following death of Madeleine McCann parents' 'troll' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sky News is facing an online backlash following the death of a woman accused of being an internet troll. | |
| 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 the circumstances surrounding her death were being investigated. | Mrs Leyland was found dead in a Leicestershire hotel on Saturday. Police have said the death is not being treated as suspicious and the circumstances surrounding her death were being investigated. |
| 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. |
| 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." | 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 on Thursday last week and the next day it was reported she had left the village. | The encounter was shown on Thursday last week and the next day it was reported she had left the village. |
| 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." |
| A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called at 1.42pm on Saturday October 4 following a report of Brenda Leyland being found deceased at a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park. | A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called at 1.42pm on Saturday October 4 following a report of Brenda Leyland being found deceased at a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park. |
| "Ms Leyland’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the Coroner. | "Ms Leyland’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the Coroner. |
| "Officers acting on behalf of the Coroner will look into the circumstances surrounding and prior to her unexpected death." | "Officers acting on behalf of the Coroner will look into the circumstances surrounding and prior to her unexpected death." |
| Additional reporting by Press Association |