Alison and Dermot presented This Morning (Image: ITV)
Fans of questioned a controversial move made by the today. Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary were in their usual Friday presenting roles when Dermot shocked fans at home with an announcement.
They had been discussing the actions of – a teenager who killed three young girls in Southport last year and injured many more in a violent attack that shocked the nation. However, the TV presenters announced that they would not be naming the killer on the show.
Dermot said: “We are going to start with the . I mean there’s not an awful lot to say here given the circumstances.
“Yesterday, the attacker – who we are not going to name – plead guilty and was given a 52 year sentence. The debate, I suppose, is should people be given a harsher sentence?”
But fans at home did not seem best pleased with the ITV show’s decision and took to social media to complain. Many asked why This Morning had made that decision, with one posting to X/Twitter: “#ThisMorning Say his name, why shield him? He’s a b*****d.”
The show caused outrage online (Image: ITV)
Another added: “We know his name #ThisMorning,” while a third echoed: ” Why not name the freak #ThisMorning.”
However, others agreed that the killer should not be named. One viewer posted: “The media need to stop saying it’s name or showing that mugshot! Just giving it notoriety! #thismorning.”
Someone else shared: “We know his name. maybe some people would prefer not to hear it repeatedly.”
On July 29, 2024, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were slaughtered while they were attending a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, with eight others seriously injured.
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Yesterday, at Liverpool Crown Court, Rudakubana, 18, refused to enter the dock to hear the judge pass down the sentence after having been removed twice for a series of outbursts.
Rudakubana was charged with three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder for those he injured, and additional charges of , the poison ricin and an al-Qaida manual. He unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty on all charges on Monday.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Goose said he would have imposed a rare whole life order, handed to only the most serious of crimes. However, due to Rudakubana being 17 at the time of the offence, this was prevented by law.
The judge added: “I consider at this time it’s likely he will never be released and will be in custody for all his life.”