Raoul Moat Facebook tribute page removed
15/07/2010 - 18:23:17A controversial webpage dedicated to gunman Raoul Moat on Facebook has been removed.
The ’RIP Raoul Moat you Legend’ page on the popular social networking site had attracted over 30,000 supporters since it was set up.
The page had been condemned by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said that he could not understand the sympathy being expressed for Moat, whom he branded a “callous murderer”.
But after a No 10 official telephoned the social networking site to raise Mr Cameron’s concerns, Facebook put out a statement last night making clear it had no intention of removing the webpage.
A Facebook spokeswoman said: “Facebook did not remove the ’RIP Raoul Moat you Legend’ page.
“Facebook will remove content that violates our terms when reported to us.”
The spokeswoman confirmed there are only two ways of removing a page – either it is taken down by Facebook or by the user themselves.
The creator of the Facebook page, Siobhan O'Dowd, confirmed she had taken the page down but did not rule out putting it back up.
Asked why she removed the page, she said: “I don’t know really. A few of us came to a decision but it’s going to be up again running.
“We don’t condone what he did, as what he did was wrong. I feel sorry for the families but he was still a human being at the end of the day.
“He had problems and needed help and he didn’t get any help.”
Asked about the furore over the Facebook group, she said: “To be honest, I didn’t think this would be the kind of reaction I would get.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even Facebook said that and that’s why they wouldn’t shut it down.”
Ms O’Dowd said she had not been threatened since creating the page.
“I cannot get threatened for having an opinion, surely?”
Meanwhile, police arrested a further two men today on suspicion of assisting Moat.
The men, aged 28 and 36, were arrested in the Newcastle area and were later released on police bail.
Moat, 37, shot himself last week following a massive police manhunt after he killed Chris Brown, 29, the new partner of his former girlfriend Sam Stobbart, 22, wounding her, and blinding Pc David Rathbone, 42, with a shotgun blast to the face.
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