How sick is this? An internet tribute to a teen girl who died under a train has itself been hijacked by bullies posting malicious messages.
Natasha MacBryde, 15, was killed on St Valentine's Day following rumours that she had been teased about her parents' divorce.
Friends set up a remembrance page to the 'model pupil' on Facebook so well-wishers could post messages. But among the heart-felt memories and messages of condolence came sick postings including one which said: 'Natasha wasn't bullied, she was just a whore', while another said: 'I caught the train to heaven LOL (laugh out loud).'
The vicious messages were on the site for 11 hours before being removed. Yesterday Natasha's grieving father Andrew, 47, from Worcester, criticised Facebook for not monitoring the site more carefully.
He said: 'I am disgusted at these comments made by some seriously sick individuals. I simply cannot understand how or why these people get any enjoyment or satisfaction from making such disgraceful comments.
'Facebook has a responsibility to allow people to express their grief properly while weeding out these sick people. I am trying to concentrate on the many, many beautiful and heartfelt comments which have been written.'
He also revealed that a macabre video – entitled 'Tasha The Tank Engine' – had already been removed from YouTube after Natasha's devastated brother James, 17, complained.
The video is understood to have featured a spoof version of Thomas the Tank Engine featuring a picture of Natasha on the front of a train.
It is believed that Natasha was deeply depressed about the break-up of her parents' marriage, and matters were made worse by unkind comments over their divorce from fellow pupils. She died instantly when she was hit by a train at Bromsgrove station, hours after sending her brother a text message saying: 'I'll miss you'.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious by police and her funeral is scheduled for March 4.
After her death, scores of friends posted messages on Facebook alleging that Natasha was being bullied, although her school said it was unaware of any problems.
Following the hijacking of the Facebook tribute to Natasha, friends expressed their anger. One said: 'It isn't enough that Tasha is dead, these evil bullies can't leave her in peace. What possible pleasure can these people get from making jokes like this?'
A police source said: 'We are investigating several incidents of malicious messages being posted on the internet.The postings will be traceable.'
Facebook said: 'We encourage people to report content that they find offensive or questionable.'
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