'Chop off her head' DJ faces sack
Apr 2 2007
By Anuji Varma
THE plight of Midland mum Faye Turney and her fellow Iranian hostages had touched the hearts of the nation.Prayers have been said by her family and friends, while diplomats from around the globe seek a peaceful solution to the crisis and the safe return of the Navy captives.
But BBC presenter Tony Butler had his own views about the kidnapping of the brave Shropshire-born mum.He told Radio WM listeners: "If she gets her head chopped off, it will serve her right." The sickening on-air rant sparked furious complaints and veteran broadcaster Butler, 74, is now facing a battle to save his job.
A friend of Faye, 25, called his outburst "disgusting" and said the DJ who coined the phrase "on 'yer bike" should do just that. She said: "It's so wrong for someone in his position to say something like this. Faye would be really angry and very upset if she knew. "It was always her dream to serve in the armed forces and she worked incredibly hard to reach her position.
"Faye knew she wanted to be in the Navy from an early age. I cannot believe a DJ at the BBC would be allowed to make such a comment, or even think about saying something like this." Leading Seaman Faye grew up in Bicton Heath, near Shrewsbury. She was married at Christ Church to fellow serviceman Adam and the couple have one three year-old child, Molly, and now live in Plymouth.
Her parents still live in Shrewsbury. She and her 14 Navy colleagues were seized by the Iranians after being accused of entering Iranian waters. The British Government insists the group were in Iraqi waters.
Butler had been discussing the worsening crisis on Wednesday night with fellow WM DJ Paul Franks when he made his outburst. Horrified listeners heard him attack the idea of women serving in the armed forces before he declared: "If she (Faye Turney) gets her head chopped off, it will serve her right." He went on to present his usual Football Phone-in slot at 7pm.
But, following complaints, Butler apologised three times to the station's 300,000 listeners the next night. He said: "We were talking about the capture of the British Navy personnel in Iran last night and my words came out wrong. "I made comments about Faye Turney and the place of women in the armed forces that I shouldn't have said and they were totally unacceptable. "I apologise unreservedly to her, her family and anyone I offended."
But last night Shropshire County Councillor George Richey, a retired Lt-Col who served in the army for 27 years, also condemned Butler's comments. He said: "Women have always served in the armed forces and so they should. What a stupid man for making those comments. It is disgraceful and awful for the family of Faye Turney to hear."
The controversial DJ was sacked by former bosses at BRMB after assaulting a wheelchair-bound colleague in 1984. He now faces a real battle to hang on to his WM job after the BBC launched an investigation into the shocking outburst. A BBC spokesman said: "Tony Butler has apologised unreservedly to Faye Turney, to her family and to the listeners he offended with his remarks. "Tony is well known for his outspoken views. However, in this instance, these were wholly inappropriate, and he accepts that his comments, made on a live show, were totally unacceptable.
"The BBC apologises unreservedly for any offence his comments caused." A Ministry of Defence source added: "I'm personally shocked that a BBC journalist would make such a comment."
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