Facebook vigilantes identify mother of Baby P
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Independent Minds
The identity of the 27-year-old mother of Baby P was last night being circulated on the internet with the names of her boyfriend and the third man convicted of causing the child's death, after online vigilantes began a campaign calling for violent retribution against them.
An order issued by the judge who oversaw the trial of the woman and her boyfriend forbids details about them, including their names, photographs and addresses, from being made public. But yesterday the information was listed on unofficial news websites and social networking sites.
Facebook shut down pages carrying threats and abusive comments about the mother after thousands of users subscribed to groups carrying the names of the couple and Jason Owen, 36, who were convicted at the Old Bailey this week of causing the 17-month-old boy's horrific death. The judge's order allows Owen's identity to be made public.
One Facebook group was entitled "Death is too good for [the mother's name], torture the bitch that killed Baby P". Another that carried the name said "Baby P killers should be hanged Drawn and Quartered". The page contained graphic threats of violence and the addresses of the three.
Facebook said that although many of the comments on the chat groups it hosted reflected conversations taking place "from the House of Commons to the man on the street", it was making sure that comments breaking the court order and its own rules were removed.
Another social networking site, Bebo, removed the mother's profile page after abusive messages were posted, while her Friends Reunited profile was also being circulated.
The difficulties of policing the internet were highlighted when the mother's name briefly appeared in a discussion thread about Baby P hosted by The Sun. The information was removed.
But unofficial news sites were last night continuing to offer information about the defendants. One carried photographs of the mother, the names of all three defendants and that of Baby P.
Mark Stephens, of the Internet Watch Foundation, said: "There is a ... problem with trying to enforce court orders that apply to the UK ... We either need to develop more sophisticated ways of dealing with this kind of information when it is posted or we decide to recognise the permeability of information once it reaches the internet."
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Comments
They kiiled that beautiful baby boy and all your going to give them is a maximum of 14years? Hardly fair now is it.
You need to start setting examples of people because this keeps happening. Wake up for god sake...
Britain is in shambles.
BABY P is DEAD so it is not he that needs protecting any longer...the time for that was in the past and the system FAILED him...his killers identities MUST be known
we need to know the identities of those that kill children through brutal cruel Violence...how dare the judicial system suppress their names...that is protecting them from having to face up to their heinous crime
Im disgusted, sickened, appalled!!!!
They should all spend every single second of the rest of their lives in PRISON with NO chance for Parole EVER
Baby P is Never going to be let out of the grave...his killers should never be let out of prison
What in Gods name is the UK legal system coming to?
When it comes to finance and the need for a fall guy, somewhere to place blame, we are quick to name and shame those that had huge bonuses and pensions.....so what! it was within the law
Yet, when it comes to exposing deliberatlely evil and sickening vile beings, they are given anonymity, protection, shelter, food, and when released, a nice new life!
I am very happy to be an expat, and mourn the loss and downfall of what was 'The great British Empire'
Sadly, the formerly 'GREAT BRITAIN' is now reduced to just another lawless, free for all orafus!
It seems that UK will aid and abet the fight over EVIL versus GOOD, and is therefore, doomed.
I personally, suggest that far too many 'seudo' jobs have been created to massage unemployment figures, with lack of training, time duration of training and more importantly, 'feeling' for the social work field of proffession, a hazzard of over population (another issue), perhaps this is a contributory factor as to why this little boy was not rescued from what was an obvious torture chamber, although, in this particular sad case, anyone with 1 eye could have saved him.
So why didn't they? too many chiefs? too many indians? too much paperwork? too costly?
A hopeless state when red tape and administration takes priority over the life of a helpless child.
I despair of UK and am no longer proud to be British.
I, along with thousands of women, would have given my right arm to have had that beautiful little boy.
In a system that functioned correctly, baby P would have been placed safely, atleast 2 months prior to his totally uneccessary death.
Those that failed him, know who they are, perhaps they will have the good grace to offer their opinions in what they felt went wrong, and why it went wrong, tracing the roots of their reluctance to take action, and explain, not only to their superiors, but, also to the public who care that this unacceptable and catasrophic failure does not occur again.
Baby P's Aunt or Great Aunt had informed the police that the lodger was having a relationship with a 15 year old girl and nothing was done. The man was breaking the law and if the police had stepped in then they may have spotted signs/situations surrounding Baby P which would have caused concern and it could have grinded to a halt then.
When Baby P's mother eventually goes to prison, someone, somewhere will cotton on to who she is. Then one day she will be all alone in the showers and the words she will hear will strike fear in her heart, "It's payback time". Then she will go through what her baby went through, only she is expecting it. Baby P probably looked at her through every beating and thought "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you letting these men do this to me? You're my Mum, I love you."
I cannot understand why it has been ruled to release the identity and photograph of the lodger, but not the mother of the child or the man that she was living with. I do not understand the Judge's reasons for doing this. If anyone could enlighten me, I would be very grateful.
I believe that the identities of the killers should be known. I cannot comprehend why they are being protected. Those in the Health Authority involved in the case have been named, shamed and are now allowed to be hounded by the press within the community, while the actual killers are under court protection.
Judges make mistakes - they are only human. Unless the Judge in question outlines the reasons for his decision to keep the identity of Peter's killers secret, and it is deemed to be justifiable, I ask the public to join together to demand to know the identity of these people - this is our country and we do have a strong voice if we work together. A petition is one suggestion as to how this could be achieved.
Let us also remember that, unfortunately, Peter does not stand alone. There are thousands of children like him today, some of whom it is not too late to save. Let us think of ways in which we can all help to prevent child abuse, there are reputable charities where we can donate money or time to this essential cause or, just keep vigilant in spotting the warning signs of an abused child and to not be afraid to speak out if you feel that it is necessary.
Please let us work together to ascertain the identities of the killers of Peter and, in remembering him, let's try to do our bit for the others, who need us to be their voice.
Thank you.
This underclass is a result of the increasingly lenient attitude to increasingly sickening crimes. Brady and Hindley at least stayed in prison, in the Bulger case the perpetrators are already out and being protected. The self gratifying parents who were themselves criminals pass this on because they were never told "No more!" and never impose rules on their children. The law has it's hands firmly tied. Result, Drunken youths polishing off drink and drugs, screaming and shouting at all hours. Anyone disagreeing with them takes their life in their hands. I know this underclass is a minority.
The law must be made strong again, new judges must be created who are younger and more in touch with public opinion and Peter's tormentors should be sitting in a tiny room with enough food to keep them barely alive and be tortured, beaten and verbally abused as often as possible by drunken, drug addled yobs. Do I mean that?, well no because that would make me no better than them. They should be in solitary confinement in a room covered with pictures of this lovely boy and knowing if they are ever admitted into the limited society of prison, that there will always someone who WILL revenge Peter. And I do mean until they die.
Make the law a deterrent again and make Peter's short life be the beginning of the end for people who really think an apology will make others forgive this heinous crime.
I should imagine that all three of the killers are celebrating tonight, knowing that when they are released from prison, in just a few short years, they will be able to begin their new lives, with protected identities paid for by the tax paying public, as young people, with their lives ahead of them. The mother of little Peter will soon meet another man and, no doubt within months, will be expecting another child.
Everyone I speak to is united in their thoughts about this matter. This is clearly the feeling of the nation. Why are we not being heard?
After hearing the verdict earlier today regarding the sentencing of the killers, added to my feelings of anger, betrayal, sadness and disappointment was fear. I am afraid of the shortcomings of our legal system. The man that killed Peter and raped another baby may be walking the streets in less than ten years time, as a man in his early forties. We will not be told when he is released, or his name or whereabouts. The man is clearly a danger to society.
The public is even denied knowing the identity of two of the killers in question, in order to protect them. A great deal of money, time and effort has been put into protecting these people and in trying to wipe off every trace of their identites posted onto the internet by members of the public. And we are supposed to have freedom of speech! Who is making these decisions? It is madness.
It is a corrupt society that protects those guilty of such horrific crimes and yet denies the human rights of a nation, who only wish to see justice done and the innocent protected. I fear for where it will all end.
Anne Perry
Anne Perry