Following the discovery of Nicola Bulley's body the family released a statement.
In short it accuses the media of publishing lies, and social media of doing the same. Specifically the statement says Sky News and ITV ignored request for privacy. Finally it calls such behaviour out as appalling and says those who behaved in such a way need to be held accountable.
- Press & members of the public wrongly accused, misquoted and villified family and friends;
- They ran stories to sell papers and increase their own profiles;
- Sky News and ITV ignored our request for privacy, contacting us directly;
- This behaviour is appalling and they have to be held accountable;
And below is the family statement in full, issued following confirmation that her body had been recovered from the River Wyre.
Sadly the current situation in the UK means legal action may only be possible where publications/posts are defamatory, (caused or is likely to cause serious harm’ to individuals’ reputation) or invade privacy, or incite violence, hatred or terrorism. It is an offence to send a message over a public electronic communication network that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. Also prohibited is electronic communication which is indecent, grossly offensive, or which is false, or which the sender believes to be false (if the purpose or one of the purposes of the sender is to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient).
In the UK regulators can take various actions but their powers seem limited.
Bulley family statement in full
"Our Family Liaison officers have had to confirm our worst fears today. We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us. We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that.
Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most. And it saddens us to think that one day we will have to explain to them that the press and members of the public accused their dad of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family. This is absolutely appalling, they have to be held accountable this cannot happen to another family.
We tried last night to take in what we had been told in the day, only to have Sky News and ITV making contact with us directly when we expressly asked for privacy. They again, have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profiles. It is shameful they have acted in this way. Leave us alone now. Do the press and other media channels and so called professionals not know when to stop? These are our lives and our children's lives.
To those who genuinely helped and supported us, privately, we thank you. The community support in St Michael's, friends', neighbours and strangers has been nothing short of comforting and heart-warming.
Friends you know who you are. Thank you.
Our hearts truly break for others who have missing loved ones. Keep that hope alive. Finally, Nikki, you are no longer a missing person, you have been found, we can let you rest now. We love you, always have and always will, we'll take it from here xx."
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