The distraught mother of a deceased Iraq War veteran whose photo was used in a fake Facebook account to attack Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun, has hit out at the perpetrator, saying their actions were despicable and heartless.
Marilyn Andreatta spoke to Fairfax Media from the US about her anguish at learning her son Justin Stanfield Thomas' image had been used in such a way.
"I'd like to know who's behind it; another politician perhaps? Why steal someone's identity if you don't have anything to lose?" said Ms Andreatta, who lives in Florida.
"I think it's despicable that someone would used a deceased veteran's identity to post political comments.
"My son deserves better. Whomever is behind it should be prosecuted. Please find this person. He or she needs to be punished. My heart aches over this. "
Last week Fairfax Media reported that a fake Facebook account had been set up under the name Greg Stanton which used the image of Justin Thomas.
But readers of the Liverpool page realised something was amiss and, after searching the internet, found the real identity of Mr Thomas.
Mr Thomas was a green beret and served in Iraq. He was killed in a terrible accident in 2013 when his four-year-old son accidentally shot him. They had been visiting the home of a friend when the toddler found a loaded gun.
The photo used on the Facebook account was widely used in the media at the time of Mr Thomas' death.
It was copied and used to make comments against Ned Mannoun on another Facebook account, Liverpool Deserves Better, which is run by lawyer and mayoral hopeful Peter Maatouk. When contacted by Fairfax Media, Mr Maatouk was shocked and said the post had just appeared out of nowhere on the Facebook page he runs. "It is a shame people have to hide behind fake profiles to say what they really feel," he said.
The Greg Stanton posts, which were attacking the credibility of Mr Mannoun, have now been removed.
It has now emerged another fake Facebook account had been used to attack a Greens Party member in 2011.
Justine Langford told Fairfax Media that she was the subject of attack from a fake Facebook page which purported to be or have links with Kings Cross identity Fadi Ibrahim.
"I was the convener of the Petersham-Newtown Greens group in Sydney during the 2011 state election. During this election the Greens came under major attack from some groups. In this case a 'fake' Facebook account was set up to attack the Greens under the name of 'Fadi Ibrahim for Lyne'. The page, which features a picture of journalist Andrew Bolt, is still active.
"I think owners of social media platforms need to take some responsibility when complaints are made. Some social media is being used as a way of intimidating and abusing people."
Ms Langford said the Greens had reported the matter to police.
Ms Andreatta contacted Facebook about the fake Greg Stanton page.
She said Facebook "deleted it as a violation of terms".
