Three weeks ago mother-of-two Nicola Bulley disappeared while out walking her dog, Willow. Since then, we have seen the very best and worst of human nature.
In the days after she vanished from St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire, Nicola’s friends and family did not stop giving up hope. They worked day and night, tirelessly putting up posters and conducting their own searches in the hope of tracking her down and keeping her disappearance in the public eye. They are exactly the type of friends we all want.
On the flipside were the growing numbers of conspiracy theorists who always seem to materialise when tragedies like this happen. They are the keyboard warriors who spend hours in darkened rooms, looking to point fingers at all and sundry and criticise at every turn.
It turns out that Lancashire Police has been “inundated with false information, accusations and rumours” invented by these charlatans.
Asked if “social media videomakers and wannabe detectives have been an annoyance or a hindrance in the inquiry”, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said: “Yes, it has significantly distracted the investigation. In 29 years’ police service I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Nicola’s family and friends today – you all did yourselves proud during what must have been a hellish time. And as for the online trolls, you can crawl back under the rocks from where you came.
Livi-ing a dream
Little Layton Steel made Scottish football history on Saturday. The autistic youngster was the first wheelchair-using mascot to be allowed on to the pitch at a Scottish Premiership match.
The five-year-old Rangers fan was wearing his trademark noise-blocking headphones. And to make him feel at home, kind-hearted Livingston skipper Nicky Devlin donned an identical headset, too.
Fighting back tears, Layton’s mum Lizzy said: “This will help bring a lot of awareness to disabilities like Layton’s. It was a special moment.”
Well done, Livingston FC – what a wonderful gesture. You really made a little lad’s day one to remember forever. This was a first for the SPFL and it should be just the start for supporters like Layton.
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