Allan Bryant troll pleads guilty to online taunts

COURT: Fatherof missing Glenrothes man calls for ‘tougher sentence’ over sick messages

A vile internet troll who targeted the family of missing man Allan Bryant Jnr has admitted taunting them for a second time.

Stewart McInroy appeared from custody at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Thursday and pled guilty to two charges.

The 27-year-old sent a series of taunting Facebook messages to dad Allan Senior and sister Amy, 22, using the Facebook messenger app on March 7.

The evil troll, who was previously jailed for taunting the family and saying he had tortured their loved one, will appear for sentencing on May 17.

Allan Senior slated McInroy’s actions and told how internet trolls have devastated his family since his son disappeared in November 2013 from Styx nightclub in Glenrothes.

The 52-year-old said: “He’s not long out of jail and he thinks he can target my family again. The court need to send out a proper message this time because each time he’s got the same sentence.

“He’s not going to stop. Obviously he has psychological issues but he still knows what he is doing and the effect it has. I’m going to write a letter to the procurator fiscal, telling them the effect these trolls have had on my family and how the poor sentences affect us.

“Hopefully he’ll get a tougher sentence this time around.”

For most people it is simply unimaginable to think what goes through the mind of a person who decides to taunt families facing personal heartache. Sadly for some sick individuals it appears to be second nature.

Stewart McInroy has twice appeared in court for taunting the family of missing Fifer Allan Bryant Jnr.

The 27 year-old is one of an apparently ever-growing band of internet bullies.

Hiding behind a computer screen, they appear immune to any feelings of shame as they mete out the kind of abuse they would surely never contemplate during a face-to-face interaction.

Solutions are proving hard to find, but there is no doubt harsh punishments will help to ensure the message gets across.

Bullying in cyberspace is never legitimate, and can be every bit as harmful as the kind of more traditional playground victimisation we are all aware of.

It is easy for perpetrators to feel they are somehow hidden behind a computer screen but it must be made clear that there is no such hiding place.

Mr McInroy has already served one jail term for “trolling” Mr Bryant Jnr’s family.

Using a pseudonym was, not surprisingly, not enough to pull the wool over the eyes of investigators.

Internet trolls everywhere, take note.

Stewart McInroy has admitted sending more vile messages.