Caithness councillor hits back at online abuse
A far north Highland councillor has hit out at the toll taken on elected politicians by people who carry out misinformed, corrosive social media attacks.
Independent Wick and East Caithness member Willie Mackay said his former colleague Maxine Smith was recently the latest of several councillors to step down because of online abuse to which they had been subjected.
He said that fortunately it had not been a particular problem for him but he said the personalised abuse he has seen directed at others has appalled him.
“Some of the comments are bordering on outright defamation of character which could be the subject of court proceedings,” he said. “It’s not easy as we can’t really reply to them.”
Speaking at last week’s meeting in Wick of the Association of Caithness Community Councils, Councillor Mackay referred to the resignation at the end of last month of Easter Ross councillor Maxine Smith.
Citing “serious hate incidents” among her reasons for stepping down from her 18-year stint on the council, she said: “I’m not an angel. I’m just a woman and any time we make mistakes as a politician we are hung, drawn and quartered by social media.
”This has become a frightening world to live in and I just want to be an ordinary human being.”
Councillor Mackay said: “She just couldn’t put up with the hassle any more and she’s one of three who have left because of this issue.
“We really need to counter the online abuse that some members are having to deal with as it’s been getting worse over the last six to 12 months.”
Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council chairman Allan Farquhar said community councillors can also find themselves in the firing line of online trolls.
“What protection do community councils have against scurrilous and scandalous accusations?” he asked. “It’s become quite concerning. Anybody can say anything and they don’t suffer any consequences and that is just not right.”