The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Uncle of tragic Daniel hits out at authorities
The furious uncle of a Scottish teenager who took his life after being blackmailed by cybercriminals has said he has “zilch” confidence in the authorities.
Daniel Perry, from Dunfermline, jumped off the Forth Road Bridge in 2013 after falling prey to an online scam where he believed he was chatting to an American girl the same age.
A recording of their Skype chat was used by scammers to blackmail the 17-year-old who threatened to share the footage if he didn’t pay up.
Inquiries by Police Scotland revealed an electronic online trail, which led to the Philippines and links to organised crime groups there.
Speaking this week his uncle, Ron Reilly, said he feels that the search for Daniel’s blackmailers feels like “one step forward, half a dozen back”.
Mr Reilly, who runs a garage in Edinburgh, said: “The Philippines government changed and now we’re going backwards not forward. This government is a lot less helpful than the last government.
“Everybody is trying to sweep it under the carpet.
“Nothing against our guys, the police and lawyers, but our confidence of the Philippines helping is zilch at the moment.
“It was going in the right direction, now we’re going in the wrong direction.
“They’re not helping at all now.”