The dad of a Worcestershire schoolgirl who died when she was hit by a train has blasted insulting messages left on an internet tribute site created in her memory.
Just a week after the body of 15-year-old Natasha MacBryde was found on a railway line near Bromsgrove, abusive messages were posted on a remembrance page set up by her friends on Facebook.
One user calling herself Pro Fesser posted a picture of Natasha with a banner saying: “I committed suicide for the Lulz” (amusement).
Another poster wrote: “Natasha wasn’t bullied, she was just a whore”, while one said: “I caught the train to heaven LOL.”
The comments were left on Facebook for around 11 hours before being removed.
A video entitled Tasha The Tank Engine, thought to have been a spoof version of Thomas the Tank Engine featuring a picture of Natasha on the front of a train was also removed from YouTube.
Friends and family of Natasha, a pupil at Worcester Royal Grammar School, blasted the cruel comments and called for more to be done to combat social network bullies.
Natasha’s dad Andrew, 47, said: “I am disgusted at these comments made by some seriously sick individuals. I am shocked that Facebook don’t monitor these sites more closely.”
On Facebook, a user called Callum Gillicker said: “I have just seen the bad things been said about this girl, it’s despicable.”
Natasha’s brother James, who previously hit out at allegations that she killed herself because she was being bullied, said: “There were no bullies, the press twisted it to sell a story. Truth is, there was no real reason. It’s all lies, please no one listen to it.
“Please everyone stop the arguing, this is a page to remember Natasha by sharing stories and memories.”
Natasha’s body was discovered just north of Bromsgrove station at about 3am on Valentine’s Day. A British Transport Police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Natasha’s death.
Facebook said: “We encourage people to report content that they find offensive or questionable.”
