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THE TWO RADIO DJs behind the viral prank call to the London hospital where Kate Middleton was receiving treatment last week have apologised to the family of a nurse who died by apparent suicide following the incident.
Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were taken off the air in the aftermath of the hoax call, gave an emotional interview to the Nine Network’s A Current Affair yesterday.
Breaking down in tears, Christian said they were both “shattered, gutted and heartbroken” about the nurse’s death.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends, and all those affected. Mel and myself are incredibly sorry for the situation and what’s happened. We hope they are doing OK and get the love and support they need right now.”
“There’s not a minute that goes by that we don’t think of her family and what they must be going through,” added Greig. “The thought that we may have played a part in that is gut-wrenching.”
Both presenters said that nobody could have foreseen or predicted the outcome of the show’s decision to make the call.
“The phone call itself…there was no malice on our behalf,” said Christian. “It wasn’t to agitate, or to offend or to dig at all. It was…the joke was our accent. We just assumed that the same phone call was made 100 times that morning.”
Asked whether the call should have been aired, the pair distanced themselves from the decision-making process, stating it was taken out of their hands.
“We did everything we normally do when we make those prank calls,” explained Greig. “We didn’t have that discussion. We just handed it to them and they had the discussion. I don’t know the process. There’s a whole team of people who work with us.”
“People far above us [make those decisions],” continued Christian. “We’re not privy to what happens. This call was no different to anything else. It’s the same process. I’m not aware of the filters. It’s passed on and we’re told yay or nay.”
Greig told A Current Affair that she does not want to “even think about going back on air”. Christian added that they were still trying to get their heads around the situation and it was “too early to tell” what would happen.
The call, which heard Greig and Christian posing as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, sparked outrage across the world after the 46-year-old nurse and mother-of-two was found dead. She had taken the initial call and, as there was no receptionist on duty in the early morning, she put them through to a colleague who divulged details of the Duchess’s condition.
The broadcasting company, which owns 2Day FM, has now suspended all prank calls across its networks. However, chief executive Rhys Holleran has said he was satisfied that the appropriate checks were conducted before the pre-recorded segment was broadcast. The stunt was also vetted by lawyers.
In a statement to the Australian stock exchange, Southern Cross Austereo confirmed it was also suspending advertising across 2Day FM and Greig and Christian’s Hot 30 show.
According to the company, “several attempts were made by the production team to discuss the segment with the hospital, but with no success”.
Holleran said a “detailed and rigorous review” of its policies and procedures will now be undertaken.
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Sure they’ll just buy them out from under the nose of first time buyers with the 7 billion housing budget and push prices higher!
On of the people that work with me was lucky enough to get a socially affordable home two years ago in a new limerick estate after 12 years on a list. When I call to help out with odd jobs it’s like visiting a foreign country as 2/3 are recently arrived and housed within 18 months of a successful application for asylum.
The rent is also means tested so my mortgage is actually cheaper.
Next election people should ask every candidate that calls to their door one simple question.
Please name 5 things you or your party have actually done for this community. Then film the answers.
What are people on about a housing crisis we’ve 158 units built there and plenty of fields for tents for people to get they’re bearings when they arrive. There’s plenty of extra tax fund from this budget i hear so more modular homes. Irish can look for a loan for an extension to house they’re families at granny and grandads house, that’s anyone fortunate enough to have parents who are lucky to own one. The rest can save up 5000 and head for Australia or USA cos they don’t allow you in otherwise,have a job lined up and no criminal record,opposite here though oddly unfortunately.
@Paddy C: you’re a tad off on the US there Paddy
I suppose it’s fair to say nothing has changed and nothing will ever change when FFG in charge.
I assume that number excludes the homes built for Ukrainians et al
Yawn. News ceases to become news (as in what is new) when one can foresee the future.
I propose that William Slevin gets deported. His tent or house will then become available to help ease the accommodation crisis.
Any seconders?
A Govt that lost the people & the moral authority to govern a long time ago. Listening to Harris speaking every day shows that he has no interest or concerns for the ordinary working Irish taxpayer, spends his days pandering to those arriving in record numbers every week, people are sick of it.
Too many, we need rental houses for us capitalists :)
@John D Doe: No rental houses for capitalists means less houses for people who want to rent! Landlords are needed despite being vilified all the time……. I’d choose to have more small time landlords over REITs anyday because the REITs profits go abroad and pay as little tax as possible!
Cooking The Books
My daughter has 3 young children with autism & asthma her husband took his own life 5yrs ago. She’s been on the housing list for 11yrs now with she currently lives in a private rented house paying €1500 a month. The house is damp and has black mould everywhere it’s so bad that she has to share her room with all 3 kids because the kids bedrooms are so bad. her kitchen and bathroom are a total health hazard with mould, she can’t ask the landlord to fix it because the people that were in it before her were given notice to quit because he was selling up, a for sale went up for the house for 3mths then went down and house was rented out then to her she knows he will do the same if she complains, there are 19 houses empty in our town some have been empty 3yrs there is no sense to it
have your say