Ann Widdecombe was a resolute champion of free speech. It is even possible she would have defended the right of people to post gleeful, malicious comments on social media rejoicing at the violent death inflicted on the 78-year-old veteran politician.

AI-generated memes were posted of her in her famous yellow Strictly Come Dancing costume, being dragged into hell by the devil. Others rejoiced publicly that “another hateful bigot had been consigned to the dustbin of history”. Some used language too foul to be repeated.

Bluesky, an allegedly kinder alternative to the nastiness of X.com, hosted some particularly cruel examples. An Aberdeen University employee, Heather Herbert, was arrested and charged over social media comments about Widdecombe’s death after allegedly saying she hoped it had been “an extremely painful death. I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.”

This was a reference to the lie that Widdecombe approved of women being handcuffed in labour, which she had not said. Incidentally, as prisons minister, she visited every prison, a record held by no other minister.

What caused the Lorcan Murphy I knew to become a killer?

Insider tips for perfect days out in neighbourhoods around Dublin, Limerick, Galway and beyond

Andy Farrell bites his tongue on officiating........

© The Irish Times