TV host’s apology for murder joke accepted
Liam Aitchison, 16, was found dead in a derelict building in the Steinish area of Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, on Tuesday November 29, a week after he went missing.
Two men were charged with murder following the death.
Wright, host of Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff, apologised for comments he made during a newspaper review segment of the show.
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Hide AdHe put on a Scottish accent and said “there’s been another murder”, copying a phrase from TV detective show Taggart.
A statement issued on behalf of Liam’s family at the time said the comments were “very upsetting”, “insulting” and “insensitive”.
Wright apologised on air, saying it had not been his intention to “belittle” the teenager’s death, and he wrote to Liam’s family.
TV watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation last week after receiving more than 2,000 complaints about the comments.
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Hide AdHowever, the family said yesterday that they wanted to “draw a line” under it.
They said in a statement: “We have spoken with Matthew Wright and have accepted his apology for comments made regarding Liam’s death.
“We would like now to draw a line under the whole Wright Stuff incident and ask people to focus on the process of justice for Liam.”
A memorial service is to be held for the teenager today at the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland Street, Stornoway, at 1pm. His family invited all of Liam’s friends to attend and pay their respects.
Jonathan Mackinnon, 21, from Stornoway, and 20-year-old Stefan Miller, from Carloway, appeared in private at Inverness Sheriff Court last week where they were charged with murder.