The Facebook tribute page to Raoul Moat has become a battleground after Facebook refused to remove it, despite pressure from David Cameron. The page lauds Moat as a ‘legend’ and has sickened many with its disregard for Moat’s victims.
However, Facebok says that the ‘RIP Raoul Moat You Legend’ page is just part of the ‘healthy discussion’ the social networking site prides itself on.
Moat shot three people, killing one of them, before turning the gun on himself. However, there has been a wave of support for Moat since his death, with many blaming the police for their use of tasers.
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Moat’s Facebook page has nearly 40,000 fans and has spawned some pretty out there comments.
Blue Slimrizla wrote: “F*** you all saying its his fault, if his stupid ass ex-bitch hadn’t lied none of this would have happened, Moat would rather die like a soldier than live like a coward!”
Paul Gilliver summed up his feelings, saying: “Well I lyked this bloke… He made good TV.”
Cameron was urged by a Conservative MP to contact Facebook asking it to remove the RIP Raoul Moat group and Downing Street indicated that an official was likely to contact the social networking site.
Cameron said: ”It is absolutely clear that Raoul Moat was a callous murderer, full stop, end of story.
”I cannot understand any wave, however small, of public sympathy for this man.
”There should be sympathy for his victims and the havoc he wreaked in that community.
”There should be no sympathy for him.”
Facebook, however, remain defiant, saying: “Raoul Moat has dominated public debate over the last week and it is clear that there are lots of different and opposing opinions, both about Moat himself and about the investigation which surrounds him.
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“Facebook is a place where people can express their views and discuss things in an open way as they can and do in many other places, and as such we sometimes find people discussing topics others may find distasteful, however that is not a reason in itself to stop a debate from happening.”
Moat’s Facebook page isn’t his only tribute. The riverside in Rothbury, Northumberland, where Moat shot himself on Saturday morning, has been turned into a shrine with cards and flowers.
