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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery workers false accusation

141 replies

beecurtains · 21/05/2021 18:09

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?

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 21/05/2021 18:51

I would contact the group admin and ask them to post stating that the person has been identified and the reason they were there - and that the poster is a nasty bitch who has been reported to the police and her place of work... that might provoke some reaction!

ChaosMoon · 21/05/2021 18:52

Your relative is in danger. Contact the police immediately. People have lost their lives because of vigilante attacks after false accusations.

Georgeatemyhat · 21/05/2021 18:52

Someone on our local Facebook page did something similar with a photo of a man in a park, a few hours later she deleted the post and posted a new one stating after speaking with the Police she was aware this was defamation, had been told by the Police to take it down and apologised. So I think if you ring Police, as well as report to the sites administrators this will be down in about 5 minutes. . . . So awful how this can happen, must be very upsetting

LST · 21/05/2021 18:52

Take screenshots of everything. All the photos, post and comments and then message her to say you're contacting the police. This is disgusting. She should lose her job

ThatIsMyPotato · 21/05/2021 18:52

Screenshot and send it to the police. Tell her what you wrote here. IMO it is not enough for her to delete it she should write an apology and retract her accusation.

LST · 21/05/2021 18:53

Also her workplace. I'd definitely contact them too.

AhaShakeHeartbreak12 · 21/05/2021 18:56

This is terrible. You see lots of things like this on Facebook recently with false accusations as people are quick t jump to conclusions

baldafrique · 21/05/2021 18:58

Instruct a lawyer and get her sued for slander. 100%.

Daydrambeliever · 21/05/2021 19:02

Screenshot the original post and every single comment.

Phone the police.

Do speak to your relative. The chances are someone else will recognise him and he may get a visit from the police (at best) and/or vigilante types.

Report to the nursery.

Comment on the post explaining that he had taken your children to the park.

This is disgusting and I would not want my child looked after by someone this stupid. Child protection is taken extremely seriously by everyone who looks after children for a living - she should not be anywhere near cgildren if she thought was appropriate.

baldafrique · 21/05/2021 19:07

She is such a fool. She is fucked if you take this further legally (as you should). Make sure to get screenshots.

kitkatsky · 21/05/2021 19:07

I'd also contact the police tbh!

hellywelly3 · 21/05/2021 19:08

Call the police for his safety

Miseryl · 21/05/2021 19:10

Phone the police immediately- he is at real risk and particularly vulnerable since he's on a wheelchair.

Then phone the nursery and report the picture to Facebook.

Toottootdrivers · 21/05/2021 19:11

I'm not usually one to say go to the police but in this case I think it's justified. Your relative could be in danger. Sadly I do think you need to warn them

Lockdownlifting12344555 · 21/05/2021 19:15

Please report it to police, things can get out of hand really quickly and it needs to be dealt with swiftly etc

lanbro · 21/05/2021 19:15

I'm an admin of a community page and we would never let unsubstantiated claims like this be posted. A poor guy recently nearly ran two kids over in his van when they ran out in front of him, he shouted at them out the window then they ran home and said he'd try to get them in his van! It was all over Facebook, shared 100s of times and he actually contacted the police about it himself to clear his name.

Absolutely contact the police, and the nursery. I am disgusted regularly at what I see shared without any regard for the consequences Angry

Greenrubber · 21/05/2021 19:19

This is so bad and could really effect his life! I would also make sue u get the correct story across to everyone who has seen this post while getting it taken down!
Shocking

mam0918 · 21/05/2021 19:20

Never mind the nursery you need to contact the police... vigilante justice is serious.

Hellocatshome · 21/05/2021 19:21

Screen shot it all for evidence then contact the police.

Sobeyondthehills · 21/05/2021 19:24

This happened to a relative of mine.

You need to screenshot, post on the original post that its not true. contact the police.
Contact admin of the facebook group, to get them to remove it.

Unfortunatly once its out there, its out there and even deleting the facebook post is not going to get rid, because there will be plenty of people screenshotting it and posting it on their page, to get round the not being able to share from that group.

Your relative will need to be on his guard from fucking idiots though, when he is out and about and you need to prewarn him.

Unsure33 · 21/05/2021 19:25

I agree make sure you screen shot it and let them know you are taking legal action .

That is so awful . Only the police should ever post pictures of wanted people wth the appropriate evidence .

I would be so angry about this .

Blacksheepcat · 21/05/2021 19:25

Call the police and report her

me4real · 21/05/2021 19:25

YANBU that's horrible, sceenshot it and show the nursery. Comment on the post explaining it's bollox. And report the post to FB.

I hadn't thought of the police- that's a good idea.

toocold54 · 21/05/2021 19:29

You need to make it clear on the post exactly what you said here else it’s going to get shared millions of times and you won’t be able to stop it.

Definitely message her on there so she can say she made a mistake and contact the nursery. If it’s closed over the weekend I’d email with a screenshot of what she is posting and say the police are getting involved.

I would actually think about logging this with the police anyway incase someone else recognises him and reports him or worse!

Luckymummytoone · 21/05/2021 19:30

How awful! I’d also be reporting it to the police! It could put him in a lot of danger x