"There is a growing social media mob who appear to have lost all grip on reality."
A police investigation has been formally launched following the emergence of a video on social media that appeared to show a group of people singing a song mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey.
The video, which surfaced last week, appears to show people in an Orange Hall singing about the murder of McAreavey, who was strangled in her hotel room in Mauritius while on honeymoon in 2011.
Politicians from all the main parties in Northern Ireland
quickly condemned the footage and those taking part in the singing.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson called the video "vile" and "plain wrong", saying it was "deeply hurtful" to the family of Michaela McAreavey.
Two men involved in the video, Andrew McDade and John Bell,
issued a formal apology, noting that their apology is "unequivocal" and that their acceptance of wrongdoing is "absolute".
On Friday afternoon (3 June), a statement from JWB Consultancy, representing McDade, Bell and a third man named as Richie Beattie, said that the pair wished to "sincerely apologise" for their involvement in the broadcasting and singing of the "vile chant".
On Monday (6 June), JWB Consultancy released a new statement, confirming the opening of an official investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and citing a "public witch hunt" that has resulted in death threats for those represented by JWB, referring to "a growing social media mob who appear to have lost all grip on reality".
In its statement regarding the "abhorrent incident", JWB Consultancy notes:
"We can confirm a PSNI investigation has commenced under the Communications Act. It is however unclear how the elements of such an offence would be made out.
"We will not be confirming or denying who, if anyone, has been or will be interviewed. No inference should be drawn from this. It is obvious to point out that to begin confirming or denying the position in relation to various persons would simply lead to jigsaw identification by process of elimination."
The spokesperson goes on to highlight how a person subject to a criminal investigation is afforded a right to privacy up until the point that a charge is issued against them.
"All those represented by JWB Consultancy reiterate their complete shame and regret for their involvement in the incident whereby some persons present at the private event were singing a vile and abhorrent chant about the deceased Michaela McAreavey that was broadcast, without any intent to publish this disgusting chant, in a Facebook live video which was being streamed at the time," the statement continues.
"In any event, regardless of whether broadcast or not, the relevant behaviour is not acceptable in any section of our society, either in public or private."
JWB Consultancy goes on to state that it will not offer further specific comment on the matter, lest it prejudice the ongoing investigation.
"All those subject to investigation are entitled to due process and the presumption of criminal innocence. Similarly, anyone facing employment sanction is entitled to the statutory protections enshrined in employment law.
"This is becoming a public witch hunt, inclusive of repeated death threats and there is a growing social media mob who appear to have lost all grip on reality. It is time now to draw a line under this vile incident and allow any investigations to take their course."
https://twitter.com/JwbConsultancy/status/1533708480061837313
