2Day FM Gives $500,000 To Family Of Jacintha Saldanha, Nurse Who Committed Suicide
2Day FM, the Australian radio station that employs the DJs who pranked the London hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated, will give all of its advertising profits — at least $500,000 — to the family of the Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who killed herself after taking the call.
Chief executive Rhys Holleran of parent company Southern Cross Austereo said:
“We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the family.
“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.
“The company today reiterates that it it deeply saddened by this tragic and unforeseen event and offers its condolences to the family of Jacintha Saldanha.”
The radio station announced it will give at least the half of a million dollars to the grieving husband and children of the woman, who apparently killed herself after taking the call and passing it along to Middleton’s nurse, who gave out private details about the Duchess.
As Good Morning America reported, the station itself has been under assault since the incident last week. It was forced to suspend advertising last week as global outrage against the prank grew, and when it resumes airing commercials on Thursday all the profit for the rest of the year will go to the family of the nurse at the center of the prank.
In addition, 2Day FM has issued a company-wide suspension of prank calls.
After the Jacintha Saldanha suicide, DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian of Australia’s 2Day FM saw their show terminated. They could face criminal charges if police determined that they illegally recorded the call.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/advertising-to-resume-on-2day-fm-profits-to-go-to-jacintha-saldanha-memorial-fund/story-e6frg6n6-1226534065218