Fury over image of 'Saint Myra'

October 19, 2006

| Submit Comments | Comments (33) | Previous | Next

ADVERT: The offending image.

AN image depicting Moors murderer Myra Hindley as a saint has aroused fury.

The leaked controversial Channel 4 advert for a new film about Lord Longford is to use the infamous mugshot of the child killer taken after her arrest in 1965.

But it shows her with an angelic body, her head surrounded in a religious glow. Hindley is also holding a dove and surrounded by flowers.

It is part of the campaign to advertise a new 90-minute film called Longford, which examines his quest to free the former Manchester typist from her life sentence.

John Beyer, of Mediawatch-UK, has described the ad as "shameless".

And TV insiders have accused Channel 4 of deliberately trying to spark controversy to boost ratings.

But a Channel 4 spokesman defended the image, claiming: "This is how Longford saw her. It is in no way how Channel 4 see Myra Hindley."

Campaign

The image - seen for the first time today - is due to be used in TV trailers from next Monday, along with a marketing campaign for the drama in newspapers and magazines on the day it is screened.

It includes the headline: "What did he see in her?"

A Channel 4 spokeswoman told the M.E.N. today: "Myra Hindley was the ultimate test of Lord Longford's faith. He was a devout Catholic and able to see good in her."

The drama, to be screened a week today, stars Jim Broadbent as the Labour peer, Samantha Morton as Hindley and Andy Serkis as fellow child killer Ian Brady.

Hindley died in prison at 60 in 2002.

Winnie Johnson, the mother of 12-year-old Keith Bennett, killed by Hindley and Ian Brady, was furious when she saw the image.

"Can they just not leave it?" she said. "She's dead now and I'm still sick of hearing about her and Longford.

"As for Hindley being an angel - there should never have been a place on this earth for her and she deserves to be in hell."

DO you find the Myra Hindley image distasteful? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (33) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Tiger, Town (19/10/2006 at 12:17)

Rather like the image created a few years ago of Hindley made up of children's hand-prints, opinions on this one will differ. Older people who remember the time hate anything about Myra that isn't utter condemnation. Younger folk like me are less touchy about it. Let's face it, the woman's dead now. It was a long time ago.

Poppy, Chorlton (19/10/2006 at 12:34)

Whoever designed this image isn't very clever. To me the image is making a mockery of the horrific moors murders. Like Winnie Johnson said, Myra Hindley is dead. Why must we be faced with her image everywhere? I find it quite sad that people just want to make money out of it.

Shell, Blackley (19/10/2006 at 12:56)

Its an absolute disgrace. I won't be watching it and I suggest the best way is for everyone who thinks its offensive not to watch it either. Hit Channel 4 where it hurts, their ratings.

Ms D, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 13:52)

The Moors Murders happened before I was born but my parents lived in the same area that Lesley Ann was taken from and I remember my parents telling me about how rotten Hindley & Brady were. This image is tacky and tasteless but I would defend the right to show the programme. By banning it, it is a form of censorship which we should never have in this country. If people don't want to watch it, they don't have to do they ?

Mark, Stockport (19/10/2006 at 13:57)

Well I suppose as far as the "elitist Oxbridge snobs", who run Channel 4, are concerned - her victims were only a bunch of white working class kids from the North.
So it's okay to "offend & torment" their communities and relatives, right?
Rest assured though, if Hindley's victims had been from a "trendy" social class or community - these Channel 4 snobs would not dare produce such an ad!

Napoleon, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 14:03)

Tiger Town, can you explain to us older ones what other attitude than condemnation we can or should take towards a multiple child killer? Perhaps we should start to forgive other figures from the past and lighten up on them. So Hitler becomes an ok guy in your book does he? How about Jack the Ripper is he an ok guy now then? An opinion is fine but there are limits!!!

Ali, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 14:12)

Tiger, shame on you for comments like 'Younger folk like me are less touchy about it' and 'Let's face it, the woman's dead now' yes it was a long time ago and yes she is dead but Brady isn't! I am young and it still angers me that C4 would dipict her as a saint, just remember Winnie still doesn't know where her boy is so it will never be forgotten. i am not even from Manchester but i know she effected this city very deeply with her crime no matter how long ago it was

No need, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 14:15)

How do Channel 4 know how Langford saw Hindley? He might have seen good in her but it doesn't mean he saw her as an Angel holding a dove surrounded by flowers. Just a lame ratings grabbing excuse by C4 to cause controversy. All they've done is cause grief to the families.

Louise, Ashton (19/10/2006 at 14:18)

here we go again, no regard for the families of the victims, anything to make money etc etc. even the youngsters should never forget that this woman was a murderer of children along with her partner who we are still paying tax for to keep alive. some wannabe TV person thinking they are going to be different and make a name for themselves - people like this make me want to vomit. they have no respect for the families of the murdered children and should be made to pay for that fact. Even that one made recently which I watched because I thought it would give a different opinion came down on the side of Myra's sister and what a sad life she had, when really it should have concentrated on the devastation of these families, and in Winnie Johnson's case especially, seeing as she has never had the luxury of burying her little boy. Shame on Channel 4.

Commonsense, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 15:05)

their crimes will remain one of the most horrific crimes ever, no matter how much time goes by,
Maybe you should listen to the tapes of the little girl pleading to go home then you will realise how hated these two child murders are.

Beatrice Latham, Perth Western Australia. (19/10/2006 at 15:11)

I remember the case of those two UNHOLY ROGUES

HINDLEY & BRADY.

Its a Pity they didnt string them up.

I feel very sorry for the remainig families of the victims.

AS for her being a saint like as if

When hell freezes over.She ought to rot in Hell and I hope she is after what she did to those poor unfortunate people who just happend to have had the misfortune to come into contact with them.

BJC, Cheshire England (19/10/2006 at 15:21)

Channel 4 are just sick.

Hindley was evil Long may she rot in Hell

Ace Riley, manchester (19/10/2006 at 15:42)

And yet another missguided lord??living in cloud cukoo land just like the rest? Channel 4 needs suing for upset being caused to the parents and the family still living the hell of these two killers "animals"and i know them both? they should have both been hung years ago to stop the hurt they still inflict on the families.

ken, canada (19/10/2006 at 15:58)

and lets not forget, how these's two were caught they murdered a 17 year old lad called edward evans(if memory serves me)and chopped his body up.there is a lady still looking for her son. call me touchy but tiger i hope nobody as sinister as brady and hinley ever cross you're path

Ace Riley, manchester (19/10/2006 at 16:11)

Ian if you are reading this you can help winnie johnston ?she dosnt need reminding of this terrible thing every year ?i used to live next door to you and your mother in longsight and used to see myra drop you off at your mothers?Things like this is still a torment for her and others still alive this haunts them daily and the tv people keep churning things over in a distasteful way?you can put a stop to winnies horror and torment.by telling where keith is buried?

Louise, Ashton (19/10/2006 at 16:15)

PS - as for "Lord" Longford, if I remember correctly he had 8 or 9 kids of his own who were safely ferried about in one of his "company cars" to their public schools and back. no danger of them being a victim then, just like himself cruising about in a chauffeur driven limo to see a working class poor white catholic who claimed she "had seen the light" and hopefully get his name in the papers whilst he was at it. he was gullible albeit self interested and she manipulated him easily by pretending to be a good catholic. its all a crock now anyway but everytime its brought up to try and make a cheap TV programme or news story it makes my blood boil.

Anon, Manchester (19/10/2006 at 18:03)

I think this is a perfect example to show why so many Muslims were outraged at the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed. Stupid stunts like these cause upset to so many ppl- esp the families- some of whom have never recovered the bodies of their loved ones. Is it worth it just for a bit of press coverage?

lizzard, Devon (19/10/2006 at 18:44)

If everyone who felt repulsed by C4s promotion DID NOT watch the program then this would send a clear message to the money hungry cold hearted people that concieved this. Had Hindly been remorsefull she would have died years ago of sleep depravation having not been able to close her eyes due to the images of those little childrens suffering or at her own hands. That of course is assuming she is dead and not living near you!!!!?.

Lewis, Denton (19/10/2006 at 18:48)

Typical immoral Channel 4, they're just beyond comprehension - well they'll resort to anything to up the ratings. Sick! The poor victims families just don't need it obviously, Channel 4 don't give a fig!

Lewis

Alan Webster, Suffolk (19/10/2006 at 20:50)

I will not watch the channel 4 program because they are clearly trying to make money out of the gruesome deeds of two people who personify evil and a man who Hindley made a laughing stock. She manipulated Longford and even toward the end hoped she would be set free. I accuse the program makers of cynical and vile intent. We need to move on and excise Hindley's persona from the national psyche. More the pity she and Brady were not hanged straight way after their trial.

ex mancunian, sydney australia (20/10/2006 at 01:15)

The channel four spokeswoman who pleads Longfords' case should consider the evil that Hindley & Brady were capable of.
Could anyone honestly say that they would forgive a monster who had tortured & murdered their child? I think not.

Hindley & Brady should have been hung. A queque of volunteers to put the rope around their necks would have stretched for miles.
My niece, living at Hattersley at the time was very nearly one of their victims.

Bystander, Manchester (20/10/2006 at 08:03)

Who cares about how Longford saw her?A desperate act by a desperate station.DISGRACEFUL.

commonsense, manchester (20/10/2006 at 08:14)

Bottom line is that Hindly and Brady are the pure embodiment of evil.

john blue, levenshulme (20/10/2006 at 08:45)

whoever decided that this was the picture that would advertise the programme should be sacked.

John, Manchester (20/10/2006 at 11:52)

Well done guys! Mission accomplished for Channel 4! All this just serves for some lovely free publicity for a programme that will have garnered a much wider audience now. I find it amazing that you guys never learn. In the instance of the Prophet Mohammed cartoon, just how many times was it reprinted after the outcry? Maoning about this will only serve to make the image iconographic and hype it. Keep going and it'll probably be on every students wall by Christmas!

()

Report

News