Jeremy Kyle guest ‘stopped taking anti-depressants for lie detector test’ days before death, inquest hears
‘He was put in a homeward-bound taxi within two hours of telling a researcher ‘I wish I was dead’,’ barrister claims
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Jeremy Kyle guest suspected of killing himself had stopped taking anti-depressants in order to take the show’s lie detector test, an inquest has heard.
Stephen Dymond went on the daytime ITV talk show on 2 May to prove to his fiancée Jane Callaghan that he had not been unfaithful.
But the 63-year-old building machinery operator failed a lie detector test and was found dead a week later in his rented room in Portsmouth after the couple split.
The episode was never aired and following his death, the show was permanently removed from the schedule after 14 years.
A pre-inquest review hearing which outlined the broad themes Mr Dymond’s family will be raising, heard how he was put into a taxi two hours after telling a researcher: “I wish I was dead”.
Representing his family, Barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher said Mr Dymond was “exceptionally vulnerable” and had stopped taking prescribed anti-depressants in order to take the show’s polygraph test.
She told Portsmouth Coroner’s Court: “After his cruel shaming he did not get the appropriate support from the aftercare team.”
Ms Gallagher said the amount of time between the suggestion of Mr Dymond appearing on the show and the filming was a “very short” 72-hour period.
Following the recording, she said Mr Dymond was “put in a homeward-bound taxi within two hours of telling a researcher that he was really upset and that ‘life was nothing without Jane’ and ‘I wish I was dead’, or words to that effect”.
Ms Gallagher claimed the family had seen “no evidence” that Mr Dymond was given any welfare checks by any qualified mental health staff.
The issue of aftercare has come under the spotlight since his death and those of former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
Lawyers representing Mr Dymond’s family have now requested to see internal ITV interview notes from Jeremy Kyle, the assistant producer, a researcher, and the aftercare and polygraph teams.
ITV has also agreed to hand over an unedited recording of the episode the father of one appeared on – which his family has never been allowed to see.
The broadcaster’s barrister, Simon Antrobus, told the inquest that the aftercare team had seen Mr Dymond.
Ms Gallagher also said the family’s legal team are acting unpaid after relatives were denied legal aid.
Assistant coroner Lincoln Brookes ruled that the full inquest should be postponed until 27 April to give the family more time to look at documents provided by ITV and for more witnesses to be called.
A previous inquest, which was opened and adjourned in May, heard how Mr Dymond died in a suspected suicide surrounded by empty packets of morphine and sleeping tablets.
A parliamentary inquiry was launched after his death to investigate whether enough support is offered to guests on TV shows during and after filming following outrage from mental health experts and MPS.
For confidential support call Samaritans on 116 123.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments