By ALISON HORWOOD
Patrick McGough and Donna O'Keeffe have vowed to track down the "vigilante" behind a poster campaign labelling their 7-year-old son Michael a serial shoplifter.
The Taranaki couple, who have already contacted the police and Children's Commissioner Roger McClay over the matter, say they may lay criminal charges.
"Someone may have
lured our son somewhere and taken his photo, like a sick old man would do," said Mr McGough. "Then they acted like a vigilante and put his photos on posters without giving him a chance to defend himself."
A Waitara shopkeeper apparently distributed 20 posters of Michael among other retailers. They include his full name and a photo.
The shopkeepers told the Herald they either knew nothing of the campaign or mentioned one particular retailer. A man answered her phone and said she was out of town.
"We don't have a clue who did this, but we want to find out," said Michael's mother, Ms O'Keeffe. "It's against the law to label him a criminal like that and not give him a chance to defend himself."
She has approached Michael carefully about the photo because he is upset about his grandmother having a heart attack in the weekend.
"If they knew his name, why didn't they just contact us?" said Mr McGough.
When the couple approached the school and the police, both said they had not received any complaints about Michael.
Media calls to the Waitara police station about the matter were yesterday referred to the Palmerston North area inspector, Superintendent Mark Lammas. He was not available last night.
The poster came to Mr McGough's attention a few weeks ago, when a friend said he had seen it behind the counter at a pharmacy.
Pharmacy owner Peter Budden said a staff member was handed the poster, but he does not know who by. He does not know Michael, has never had a problem with him shoplifting, and said he had no intention of putting the poster up for display.
"It was discreetly behind a till, away from the public eye."
Mr McGough said he had twice been aware of Michael shoplifting in the past and the matter was dealt with properly.
Mr McClay, who is hoping to meet Michael's parents this week, said "shoplifter" was a terrible label to put on a 7-year-old child.
