Family of man who took fatal overdose after appearing on episode of Jeremy Kyle demand ITV hand over unseen footage of his appearance on the show
- Steve Dymond’s cousin and brother are represented by Leigh Day solicitors
- Are asking for emails between Steve and Kyle producers, and footage to be seen
- Sent appeal for legal aid to help get the data for the Article 2 inquest next month
- This was rejected and their solicitor says it is ‘disgraceful’ and appealed again
- Steve died after failing the lie-detector test on The Jeremy Kyle Show, on May 9
The family of Steve Dymond are demanding ITV to hand over unseen footage from his appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show after he allegedly overdosed after failing the programme’s lie-detector test.
Dymond, 63, was believed to have taken his life ten days after in his Portsmouth home.
He told his family how Jeremy Kyle had really ‘laid into’ him and he was distraught for the month following his love-cheat test – that was never aired on TV.
Steve Dymond (pictured) took his life ten days after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle show where he failed the ‘lie-detector test’. He told his family how the host had really ‘laid into’ him and his brother and cousin are now appealing to get the correspondence between Dymond and the show’s producers to be handed over for the inquest next month
Members of the Government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee (pictured) last month slammed the Kyle for his ‘irresponsible’ conduct on the show and it was axed following the death of Dymond
He took the test to prove to his girlfriend Jane Callaghan that he had not been unfaithful but was dumped after he failed it. Dymond was then found dead on May 9.
Kyle’s programme was axed following the tragic death and growing pressure from politicians on its conduct.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee then launched an inquiry into reality TV which Kyle refused to attend. Here MPs called the 56-year-old host ‘irresponsible’ and slammed the ‘entire premise of the show [as] fake’.
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, said it was ‘the right time for the show to end’ following the recent events in May. She added how the show had a ‘loyal audience’ and ‘everyone at ITV’s thoughts and sympathies’ are with the family of Dymond, at the time.
And Dymond’s family now demand all correspondence between their loved one before and after appearing on the show, with the producers, is handed over ahead of the inquest into Dymond’s death next month.
They could also demand to see emails as part of the Article 2 inquest – and it will be left up to the coroner to decide what is relevant.
But the family’s appeal for legal aid to help get the evidence was rejected.
The family have appealed for legal aid to help get the documents from those involved in the programme’s broadcast (pictured Jeremy Kyle during an episode) but have had this rejected. Leigh Day solicitors are representing Dymond’s brother and cousin and fighting for the ‘public interest’
Merry Varney, solicitor for the family from solicitors Leigh Day who is representing the family, said it is ‘disgraceful’ that they are are having to ‘fight’ for legal help.
The firm represented Molly Russell’s family for the inquest into the 14 year old girl’s death in 2017.
Molly took her life in 2017 after viewing content related to anxiety, depression and self-harm online.
Here he is pictured with gilfriend Jane Callaghan who he initially went on to the show for
Varney told the Mirror: ‘As well as dealing [Dymond’s family] with grief, we believe they have been subjected to flawed decision making by the Legal Aid Agency.’
Given the ‘prevalence on reality television in today’s society’ and ‘reported deaths linked to these kinds of programmes’, Dymond’s closest say there is a strong case for public interest, according to Varney.
Dymond’s lawyers appealed against the refusal to give legal aid on September 16 but they have not received any response.
Meanwhile Molly’s family were initially denied legal aid in sourcing material from Instagram for the teenager’s inquest because there was not sufficient ‘wider public interest’.
The Legal Aid Agency then reconsidered their decision and full access to the online images were granted – in an attempt to establish whether they had played a part in Molly’s death.
ITV have been approached by MailOnline for comment.
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