this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2025
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I'm putting this under a NSFW, as it may be triggering for some of us. Concerns a situation that I've become aware of at work. I'm not sure I have all the details either. But there's a moral dilemma here that I would welcome some feedback on.
messy divorce case
A really messy divorce case. Husband accused by wife of child abuse, which he denies. Kids (2 aged 6 & 9) have been examined by psychs and doctors and don't show signs of abuse. Barring a claim by the elder child that Dad won't let him have more than one fizzy drink per day. Both kids are scared shitless of their mum, who is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who refuses to take medication. When in her custody, kids have twice taken themselves down to the Salvos begging for shelter overnight. Kids now in husband's custody exclusively, and doing well in school.Wife has sprayed accusations of child abuse across several forms of social media targeting : 1) husband, 2) her dentist, 3) kids' doctor, 4) her doctor, 5) two teachers at the kids' school, 6) four of her neighbours. All 'targets' have been investigated by the police specialist unit, and all except one have been cleared of any such crimes.
However, the dentist, doctors, and the teachers have all been sacked from their place of employment, and the dentist's wife has been forcefully requested to resign from her tennis club and other social groups. And none were re-instated when the accusations turned out not to have any evidence supporting them.
One neighbour is still under investigation, but the others have been cleared. I don't know if there's been any further effects on them.
Given that several of the accused persons have suffered very real financial and social harm from accusations that may never be truly forgotten so long as the web exists. And they will be under suspicion for the rest of their lives and probably their families as well. Even though they've been cleared of wrongdoing.
Question for the DT hive mind : should the wife (who is clearly a very damaged person) be sued for libel/damages for her accusations? Has she committed a crime here? Should she get some sort of penalty for making false accusations? Or should she get off scot free because she's mentally ill and presumably not in full control of her actions?
Yes I've muddied up some of the details for privacy reasons, but the basic dynamics are as accurate as I can make them.
Morally, I think she should be held accountable.
Practically, I think the biggest consideration is actually how willing they would be to undertake the expense, effort and time involve in the legal process. Does she have much in the way of cash/assets to even pursue? Would a win actually reinstate employment? Those are the kind of questions I'd be asking.
No assets that I know of. I'm conflicted between doing no further harm to a very vulnerable person, and the rank terminally-stupid injustice done to the innocent accused.
We should always defend the innocent. Is there any greater virtue?