Facebook commentators who bad-mouthed former Wanganui High School principal Warwick Maguire will be prosecuted, police say.
Papanui Senior Sergeant Pete Stills confirmed yesterday Mr Maguire had spoken with police and those who posted comments would be facing criminal charges and civil investigation for their defamatory comments.
Mr Maguire, who became principal of Burnside High School in Christchurch this year, was targeted on the social networking site Facebook in a page called "I Hate Burnside's New Principal".
The page was put up by disgruntled Burnside High School students critical of alleged changes he had made at the school. It attracted more than 300 members who made defamatory, offensive comments about Mr Maguire before it was brought to police attention and shut down on Tuesday. A second page dedicated to the first page was put up and attracted about 150 members before it was also taken down.
Mr Maguire was away on leave when the pages were active but returned yesterday and spoke to police.
Mr Stills said after speaking with Mr Maguire police would begin taking action over the next few days. "It has not been amusing for Mr Maguire or his family, who have been hurt by the comments."
Mr Stills said some of the commentators would face internal action from Burnside High School, but others would be receiving a visit from the police.
"Some of the comments are clear criminal offences. They are clear threats made toward Mr Maguire that cannot be ignored."
Meanwhile, a Facebook page put up in favour of Mr Maguire called "Warwick Maguire is a great principal and a good man", has drawn more than 800 members.
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