by Sunny Hundal

The Daily Mail ran this appalling story (safe link) today on its website…

The disgusting attempt to blame teachers was also followed up in the Daily Telegraph later.

But the Mail’s attempt backfired when even its website readers heavily criticised the paper for the story.

The top rated comments on the article were:

Rest in peace, Sophie Howard.

(via @jonathanhaynes)

Update:

The Daily Mail have now changed their headline to: ‘Girl, 13, crushed to death by a falling branch as she sat on park bench on the day her teachers went out on strike‘.

It seems the story was distributed by local press agency News Team International, and is now carried by other outlets including the BBC and Daily Mirror.

But it may not have come with that inflammatory headline.

Sophie’s parents themselves spoke to local media and said:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our friends and family for their support at this difficult time. Sophie has a twin brother who is also suffering greatly. Our beloved daughter’s death was a tragic incident, which occurred only 24 hours ago, and we do not want it to be connected to any other events.

The Daily Mail ignored any statements by the parents.