Manchester councillor's anger over fake Instagram account sending vile messages in his name

A senior Manchester councillor has spoken out after a fake social media account was set up using his name and image.

Pat Karney, who represents the Harpurhey ward on Manchester City Council, said he was angry after the account pushed out 'vile' messages to unsuspecting strangers. One, understood to be a woman in London, was sent a disgusting threat referencing her body.

Coun Karney is a regular user of Twitter but doesn't have an Instagram account, which is where the fake profile was apparently created.

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He said he's reported the matter to the Meta platform, which owns Instagram, and also alerted the council, but wanted to speak out to confirm its a fabrication.

Coun Karney, a spokesman for the city centre who's also secretary of the Manchester Labour Group, said: "This is the fourth time this has happened to me - the fourth one that I have had.

"There have been three fake Twitter accounts but this one was on Instagram. There are nasty messages on it that have been sent to people - and that is the worst bit about it.

"I am not on Instagram and this is where this has happened. People do take these things seriously and that is the danger of all this. I have reported it to Meta and the council are aware."

The fake account, which coun Kareny revealed on his Twitter page, includes a photograph of his face and goes under the username of clr_pat.karney. He said messages started to be sent out on Sunday, when he discovered the account's existence.

The profile includes his biographical details, other photos and his official council email address, which is publicised on the council's website.

He wrote on Twitter above an image of