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Home / World

Radio station donates cash to nurse's family

AAP
11 Dec, 2012 05:31 PM4 mins to read

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2Day FM DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig speak on Today Tonight. Photo / Today Tonight

2Day FM DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig speak on Today Tonight. Photo / Today Tonight

The Sydney radio station that aired a fateful prank call to a UK hospital will donate at least A$500,000 (NZ$628,000) to benefit the bereaved family of a nurse duped by the hoax.

All advertising on 2Day FM was suspended after the nurse who first took the call, and transferred it to a nurse treating the Duchess of Cambridge, was found dead on Friday.

On Tuesday, station owner Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) announced it would resume advertising on the station this Thursday.

The company pledged to donate any profits made by the end of the year to a memorial fund that would benefit the family of the late nurse, 46-year-old mum of two Jacintha Saldanha.

"We are very sorry for what has happened," SCA chief executive Rhys Holleran said in a statement.

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"We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time."

A minimum A$500,000 would be donated, SCA said.

The company has already suspended all prank calls across its network and reportedly cancelled its annual Christmas party, instead making a donation to the Lifeline and Beyond Blue charities.

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Radio DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were taken off-air and whose 2Day FM show was axed, have been roundly criticised by British media for breaking their silence on TV current affairs programs rather than at a full press conference.

London's Sun newspaper described the "shamed" pair's apologies as "grovelling".

BBC TV highlighted that they didn't seem bothered by the ethics of the prank, in which they posed as the Queen and Prince Charles in a telephone call to a London hospital to gain private information about the pregnant Kate Middleton.

The Daily Mail said the two radio hosts escaped a tough grilling on TV, describing as "soft and sympathetic" the line of questioning they faced on Channel Seven's Today Tonight.

Discover more

Royals

Crisis talks over hoax call

09 Dec 04:30 PM
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DJs 'gutted' at nurse's death

10 Dec 05:22 AM
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Radio bosses attempted contact

10 Dec 04:30 PM
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DJs: 'Worst phone call I've had'

10 Dec 05:22 PM

"Miss Greig's mascara was running down her face as she tearfully recounted the events that have resulted in both of them being inundated with savage comments about their behaviour," the paper said.

Commentator Richard Littlejohn said: "Until they tried to present themselves as victims, I had a scintilla of sympathy for them.

"But for Michael Christian and Mel Greig to invite the world to share their pain is unforgivable. I'm sure their remorse was sincere. Turning their public apology into a self-indulgent, self-justifying sobfest was, however, utterly nauseating."

Whatever turmoil they were experiencing, he said, they had not endured a genuine human tragedy, unlike the nurse's family and friends.

The radio hoaxers said in TV interviews they were devastated, heartbroken and sorry if they unwittingly had any part in the nurse's death.

"If we played any involvement then we're very sorry for that. And time will only tell," said a tearful Greig.

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"We're incredibly sorry for the harm that we may have helped contribute (to)," said Christian.

They said there was no malice in their prank.

Greig said she was prepared to attend any inquest in London and see the nurse's family face to face.

"If that's something that they want to do, to get some closure, then I'll do that," she said.

"It was meant to be a silly little prank that so many people have done before. This wasn't meant to happen."

The nurse's family are devastated by her death and "miss her every moment of every day", according to British Labour MP Keith Vaz, who met them at the House of Commons.

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Flanked by Jacintha Saldanha's husband, Benedict Barboza, and her two teenage children, the politician said: "They want the facts to be established so that they can effectively grieve."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent their condolences to Saldanha's family.

* If it's an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Or call Youthline 0800 376 633, Lifeline 0800 543 354, Depression Helpline 0800 111 757, What's Up 0800 942 8787 (noon-midnight).

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