Sacked for private Facebook comments

The editor of an Australian newspaper has been stood down after allegedly posting insensitive comments about the killing of a young policeman on his personal Facebook page.

The publishers of the Glen Innes Examiner, a Fairfax-owned regional newspaper, released a statement on Friday saying editor Matt Nicholls had been stood down.

Mr Nicholls is alleged to have written on his personal page that the killing of Constable Will Crews, who was born and bred in Glen Innes, would boost circulation of the paper.

The 26-year-old officer was shot dead during a drug raid in south-western Sydney on Wednesday evening.

One post read "there's nothing better than a death to lift circulation".

He is also alleged to have suggested the Glen Innes Examiner would "make the most" of the tragedy.

The ninemsn website has reported that Mr Nicholls denied making the posts, but on Friday the publisher of the Examiner announced he would be stood down as editor.

"The actions of Matt Nicholls, editor of Glen Innes Examiner newspaper, were totally unacceptable and we deeply regret any hurt caused to the family and friends of Constable Bill Crews and the Glen Innes community," Allan Browne, the chief executive officer and publisher of Australian Regional Publishing, Fairfax Media, said in a statement today.

"Mr Nicholls has been stood down from his position as editor, effective immediately."

- AAP