Radio DJ criticised for suicide song gaffe

6:01am Friday 21st December 2007

A RADIO station has defended a breakfast DJ who played the Van Halen song Jump while discussing efforts by the Samaritans to stop people throwing themselves off the Tyne Bridge.

Tony Horne of the Newcastle-based Metro Radio played the opening notes of the Eighties tune as he talked about the charity putting up signs to reduce suicide.

The region has England's highest suicide figures and the temporary signs were put up to encourage people at risk to seek help.

Last night, Mr Horne's actions were branded insensitive by Shirley Smith, the mother of teenager Daniel O'Hare, who hanged himself in March 2005 at the family's home in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.

She said: "For him to belittle such a sensitive and serious issue is very sad.

"He should spend half an hour with families of people who have taken their own lives to see how devastating it is.

"He has caused a lot of offence and he does not know what he is talking about, so he should keep his mouth shut."

Mr Horne's programme director, Trevor James, said: ''I accept that the decision to play the first two notes from the Van Halen song might give offence, but I defend Metro Radio's right to discuss such sensitive issues.

"Tony likes to push the envelope. That's why he has the most listened-to breakfast show in the North East.

''He has a tendency to say what people are thinking, but may be too scared to say it themselves.

''The points Tony made were all fairly debated and everything we do is balanced.

''He played the first two notes from the song, which was, in hindsight, probably not a clever idea. Had he played any of the lyrics, that would have been out of order, but he just played the first couple of notes."

The Samaritans also condemned Mr Horne's "joke". Spokeswoman Suzanne McIvor said: "Samaritans is deeply concerned that some of the comments broadcasted by Tony Horne could be seen as making light of or dismissing people who are suicidal, vulnerable and in emotional distress and could have caused a lot of extra heartache for people bereaved by suicide at this very poignant time of year."

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