Story of 'keyboard warrior' reveals why ego often trumps compassion online

Is social media having a worrying impact on our capacity for human empathy? asks Áilín Quinlan.

A 63-year-old woman described by her neighbours as ‘God-fearing’ was found dead in an English hotel room earlier this week.

Days before, the “good, friendly” church-going woman, Brenda Leyland, had been exposed as the ‘keyboard warrior’ who had tormented Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of missing child, Madeleine.