https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/woman-arrested-over-distressing-image-shared-online-after-pensioner-hit-and-killed-by-lorry/a1648162485.html

A woman has been arrested after a “distressing” image was shared online following a road collision.

The PSNI said the 47-year-old was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of “misuse of a public electronic network to send a grossly offensive message.”

The spokesperson added that “she has since been released on bail pending further police enquiries.”

It comes after a pedestrian, John O’Brien was killed in an accident in the Albert Basin area of Newry on October 8.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An image of the aftermath of the incident, in which the 67-year-old was struck by a lorry, has been circulating online.

Police warned that anyone who shared the graphic materiel was at risk of committing a criminal offence.

Following the incident, a PSNI spokesman said: “We request the sharing of this graphic scene image to cease immediately out of consideration for the family impacted.

“Persons found to be sharing the image may be committing the offence of improper use of public electronic communications network.

"If anyone has information about the originator, or this image being disseminated, please contact police on 101.”

Campaign group The Road Ahead NI had also urged people to be respectful.
“We are also deeply concerned that a video of the incident has been shared on social media,” they said.

"We find this appalling. Please do not share such content, it causes further distress to the bereaved family and can be extremely traumatic for those who view it.

"Out of respect, we ask everyone to show compassion and dignity for the deceased and all who knew and loved him.”

The Newry Salvation Army opened a book of condolence for Mr O'Brien, describing him as “our lovely Scottish John.”

by Prestigious_Side6964

26 comments

  1. I’d expected it to be a teenager, not a 47 yr old grown woman. Scumbag

  2. What goes through your head that you would share something like this??

  3. I’m glad she was arrested for it. Don’t expect it to, but it’d be good to see it set an example for some. I think phones & social media have warped our sense of humanity.

  4. Manners clearly skipped a generation 🤨 was expecting a teenage hood not a 47 year old woman…

  6. I was unfortunate enough to be on the scene of this moments after it happened with my young daughter in the van beside me . I was lucky enough to shield her from seeing the very worst of it. Why anyone would have went straight to there phone to record instead of trying to help in some way il never know . Let alone share it with anyone is beyond me. She should be ashamed of herself . May God Bless his family R.I.P

  8. Name and shame this cunt. She deserves to be shunned for life.

  9. Great to hear they have followed through with this arrest. Hopefully it will make people think twice and consider showing some compassion instead of what this woman did. May John rest in peace.

  10. I was in a car accident the day before (thankfully no one was injured) but I was surprised how many ones driving and walking past were taking videos.

    Have people no morals, never mind having nothing better to be at

  11. Why would anyone do that? I am shocked to read that this was an adult and not a teenager.

  13. Throw the book at this whore. The pain that poor man’s family has to endure. Lowlife rat. Imagine seeing that video of someone you love. Hope she rots in hell.

  15. Morality aside I feel this case is interesting legally.

    You’re allow to film in a public place no matter what is happening.

    Assuming this blade didn’t say “ha ha look at this dead guy” in her message, at what point is sending a video of reality to someone else illegal?

    This is no different than news sharing dead children from Gaza or people jumping from the twin towers.

    I’m interested who decides and what is deemed illegal when you record in public.

  16. I saw on FB mere days after this tragic incident that a fella was offering the video and pictures to anyone that wanted them, people were freely requesting them be sent. I can’t for the life of me understand the mind of some people!!

  17. I remember a post about this here recently and I’m very glad something came of it, lock her up!

  19. Fucking glad to hear it! She’s a cunt for taking the photo never mind sending it around. I’m still stuck thinking about it occasionally and it’s been a few weeks now.

  24. I hope this sets a precedent and they arrest people more often. Someone once drove their car into the front of my workplace and pinned a pedestrian to our door, her young kids were very lucky to escape injury. Of course there were people across the road before the emergency services arrived taking photos. If someone forwarded photos like that to me I’d tear a strip off them and block them

  25. I cannot fathom what 1. Makes people take pictures of something like that and then 2. Share them online.

    How lacking in empathy, common decency and humanity do you have to be to do something like that?

    I have no idea what the sentencing is for something like this but I hope she gets at least a couple of months and fine of several thousand. Absolutely disgusting.

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