Forces of Facebook turn on Daily Mirror

Campaign against reporter who dared to criticise Wootton Bassett cavalcade

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

More than half of Afghanistan’s families live in extreme poverty

Leila is watching her baby intently, as his mouth moves trying to swallow the small blob of yellow p...

Time for a new approach to alcohol

Ambulances were called and three drunk teenagers were brought to my care. One was so drunk we had to...

Bahrain: One year on

I am used to endless lies and criticism from the BNP and its favourite blogster, as well as Islamist...

Paul Volcker stands tall against the banking lobby

Why is Europe, which likes to present itself as an opponent of speculative "Anglo-Saxon" finance, li...

The status of Wootton Bassett as a touchstone for the emotion generated by the war in Afghanistan was underlined yesterday when a
Daily Mirror journalist was sent death threats after he posted a blog that criticised a charity motorbike ride through the town.

In his posting, Chris Hughes, an experienced war reporter who has written many times on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, wrote: "Now we've seen it all – hundreds of bikers showing their 'solidarity with frontline troops' by trundling their petrol-guzzling and fume-spewing steeds through Wootton Bassett... I wonder if someone – just for a change – could set a trend by doing something they hate doing to raise money for good causes."

He was referring to a procession by 15,000 bikers along Wootton Bassett High Street which is now closely associated with the crowds of residents paying their respects to hearses carrying the bodies of repatriated soldiers.

His comments sparked a furious internet campaign with 5,000 Facebook members calling for a boycott of the title and ended up with the Daily Mirror being forced to apologise for Hughes' posting.

Executives at the paper ordered the blog to be removed from its website after it attracted thousands of critical comments from the biking community, including several apparent death threats aimed at Hughes.

In his posting, Hughes, whose colleague Rupert Hamer, the Sunday Mirror's defence correspondent, was killed in Afghanistan in January, praised the motorcyclists for raising nearly £100,000 for the Afghan Heroes charity helping serving personnel in Afghanistan and bereaved families in Britain but poked fun at the wisdom of the cavalcade through the town last Sunday afternoon.

Internet forums were flooded with comments from indignant bikers and a Facebook site entitled "Boycott the Daily Mirror for insulting the bikers of WB charity run" had by yesterday attracted 5,204 members.

One critic wrote: "Why are people so quick to condemn the enjoyment of others? If you are going to raise money, do it by doing something you enjoy. In fact you should raise more money if you do enjoy it." Another poster added: "I've been a biker for over 25 years now and as such have always been intensely proud of who and what I am. The WB run serves yet again to remind all that bikers, as well as being people of action, fully recognise and honour enormous courage and self-sacrifice."

Because of its proximity to RAF Lyneham, the airbase through which the remains of soldiers killed in Afghanistan are repatriated, Wootton Bassett has been transformed into an unofficial focal point for the paying of respect to the fallen as hearses carrying the remains pass through the small town's High Street en route to the morgue at Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital.

The spontaneous tributes began in April 2007 when two members of the British Legion noticed the hearses shortly after repatriation flights were transferred from RAF Brize Norton to RAF Lyneham and stopped to salute. Residents began to join the informal ceremony and asked if they could be informed in advance of the journeys, starting a tradition which now sees every repatriation observed by onlookers standing up to 10 deep on the pavements.

In a statement issued by the Daily Mirror, Hughes said: "I did apologise for any offence caused by what I wrote and for making light of the sincere efforts of the bikers at Wootton Bassett. The view expressed was my own personal opinion, although I now see that this was inflammatory, given the subject matter."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

How an abortion divided America

How an abortion divided America

Single mother who took a pill to end her pregnancy is now fighting a landmark prosecution in a conservative state
Can you master a language in a weekend?

Can you master a language in a weekend?

Ed Cooke insists he can use his techniques as a memory expert to help novices learn even the hardest tongues.
The 10 best heaters

The 10 best heaters

From the DeLonghi Retro Fan Heater to the Dimplex MicroFire
Coming soon to a shelf near you: The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers

Coming soon to a shelf near you

The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers
Mad, bad and delightful to know: How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

As the poet takes centre stage in the West End, Boyd Tonkin looks into the life of the outspoken champion of the poor
Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

New digital novel will overturn centuries of literary tradition by allowing readers to choose how they would like story to end
How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

With London Fashion Week starting tomorrow, designers are closeted in studios putting finishing touches to their collections
James Lawton: Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past

James Lawton

Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past
How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

United have met Ajax only once before in Europe, in 1976. The key performers recall an electric occasion
Civil war at Ajax

Civil war at Ajax

A rift between two club legends has torn the Dutch giants apart
Lewis Moody: For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now

Lewis Moody column

For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now
Geoff Toovey: Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world

Geoff Toovey interview

Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world
Picture preview: Portrait of London

Portrait of London

Picture preview
No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'