Tide turns on killer Raoul Moat tributes

Jul 16 2010 by William Green, The Journal

THE backlash against people supporting killer Raoul Moat gathered pace yesterday as a controversial Facebook page and a shrine at the place he killed himself were both removed.

Flowers and tributes to Moat left at the spot where he died in Rothbury, Northumberland, were removed yesterday morning, apparently by enraged villagers.

The RIP Raoul Moat you Legend page on the popular social networking site attracted was also taken down after threats to those who created the page were left on it.

Flowers began appearing at the Riverside in Rothbury on Sunday, just over a day after Moat shot himself after being cornered by armed police.

Some tributes were left by people with no connection to the former bouncer, with many criticising Northumbria Police. Northumberland County Council had planned to remove offensive messages left and said they would take floral tributes away when flowers faded, but it is believed a resident acted first.

County councillor for Rothbury Steven Bridgett was contacted by around 50 villagers who wanted the flowers removed.

He said: “It will have been a member of the community. There were some members of the community obviously did not want them there at all.” Rothbury Parish Council voted on Wednesday night to ask the county council to remove the shrine immediately, with members not satisfied by that authority’s stance after it received complaints from residents. Parish councillor Caroline Dawson said she did not know who had removed the flowers and, while not wanting to publicly support whoever was responsible, was happy they had gone.

Coun Dawson said people living on Riverside had been upset by the creation of shrine and visits to the area by people who did not know Moat.

She said: “They were just total and utter morons. We have got to bear in mind we have got residents that has had to go through that last week and would not want to be reminded.”

The Facebook tribute page to Moat had attracted more than 30,000 supporters but was condemned by Prime Minister David Cameron. Despite pressure from No 10, Facebook made clear it had no intention of removing the webpage and it was apparently taken down by its creator Siobhan O’Dowd.

Asked yesterday about the furore over the 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.”