Nursery workers false accusation

[beecurtains]

I've been sent a screenshot of a post from a local Facebook group posted by a lady who works at a nursery near us.

There's a photo of one of our relatives leaning on the fence outside of a kids park accusing him of being a paedophile hanging round watching and shouting over at the children. Relative had taken my DC out, he is in a wheelchair and can't get into the actual play area so would have watched them from behind the fence.

The post got a quite a few shares and 100's of comments calling him horrific names, people saying they will look out for him and making threats if they ever see him again. Shes liking and replying to all of these comments, asking people to share and warn other parents.

I dont want to tell him about this as he would be devastated but I'm worried hes now at risk and angry someone would post something like this about him.

WIBU to try and contact the nursery? Surely its a crime to publicly accuse someone like this with out any proof and especially bad considering her job?

Yes; she needs to take that down as quickly as possible.

Post on it saying it's untrue and if she doesn't retract it then legal action will be taken for libel. Also call her out on her disability discrimination.

Perhaps send her a message saying what you've just said here and asking her to delete the post woud be a good idea in the first instance.

Otherwise, yes, report to the nursery. You could report to the police and hopefully they'll say something to her. Technically its defamatory but taking out a libel case is a nightmare :(

What a disgrace.

I would contact the nursery and the police non emergency line.

No one should make accusations like these. If she has concerns they should be reported to the police and/or social care.

Given the situation I would be inclined to comment and explain why he was watching from behind the fence and suggest if they don’t like people watching children from outside maybe they could support making the park accessible for wheelchair users!

I would comment on this and tag every single person who likes and shared the post into it. If it’s possible. They need to know the story. Then I would do a separate post clarifying the situation and tell them you have contacted police, and absolutely do that. Your relative is extremely vulnerable in a chair and it also makes him easier to spot.

That’s awful
I work in a nursery and I suggest you email the nursery and ask them to publicly apologise or you will be taking legal advice

Report it to the police

All of the above but I would stress that you should contact the police asap

Actually I've just reread this - hundreds of people making threats? I'd miss everything else out and just call the police.

That's absoutely terrible. I hope you can manage to resolve this without your relative having to find out

I dont have a facebook account so going to get DH to message her. I think only members of the group can make posts, if thats a thing?
I feel like I dont want her to get away with just having to delete it though, people have already saw and believed it

You should also report it to the admins of the facebook group and see if they will take it down.

She is endangering his life.
I'd phone the police.

If she’s in Scotland complain to the SSSC. She could should lose her registration for this.
If not, definitely contact the nursery & the police. Dreadful.

That’s horrific! Please call her out on it and definitely report to the nursery and the Police.

She cannot make such wild unfounded accusations about people.

Screen grab all of it, it's going to disappear quickly and you need proof

Definitely a case for the police OP. Absolutely horrific!

@Streamside

Screen grab all of it, it's going to disappear quickly and you need proof

Yes!

I'd tell the police & also message her personally and give her the correct information as to what he was there for, very cruel & inflammatory post. I'd let her know the police have been informed what a horrible thing to do misjudging the character of someone like this with no questions asked sending a wave of hate his way, just terrible.

Don't delete before protesting his innocence. Unfortunately once the rumours start they are very hard to deny.

This is horrific. It could lead to physical harm. I would be inclined to tell the police.

I'd screenshot it ,call her out on it publicly, AND contact the Police and her employer!

You need to publicly correct her before some idiot sees your relative and does/says something stupid.

I would normally be against contacting someone's employer because of something they posted on social media, but in this case I think it is justified. People would assume that she knows something because of her job.

And yes, police. I've been "outed" on the social media before (as a fraudster / burglar), also receiving indirect violent threats, and I can imagine how you feel. I am happy to report though that people who are likely to make such threats seem to forget about them immediately. But yes, it takes only one nutcase.

Quite possibly gross misconduct from the nursery worker.

Jesus Christ.

Report to police and nursery.

The fact that she had zero realisation of what to do with a safeguarding concern, given her job, is bloody terrifying.

I think, sadly, you’ll have to warn your poor relative.