A DECORATED veteran with PTSD claims he nearly killed himself after being branded a “disgrace” when he appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show.
Fergus Kenny, 49, had agreed to go on the controversial ITV show in the hope he would be reunited with his estranged daughter.
But the corporal, who served in the Gulf War, Bosnia and Iraq, says he was driven to the brink of suicide after Kyle told him: “You don’t deserve your daughter, pal”.
Fergus has bravely spoken out about his ordeal after the death of Steve Dymond, 63, who overdosed on morphine a week after failing a lie detector test on the show exposing him as a cheat.
The 63-year-old is understood to have been dead for days before his body was found at a Portsmouth flat on May 9.
Dad-of-three Fergus, from Coalville, Leics., said: “If it hadn’t been for my kids I would have killed myself. It was that bad.
“I had been led to believe by the producers that it was going to be a reunion show with my daughter but it turned into a kangaroo court.
“I felt like I was having my whole character assassinated and was being made to look like a scumbag. It was a set up.
“I’m afraid I’m not surprised someone has died in an apparent suicide. The show makes entertainment out of people’s misery and heartache.”
‘HE RIPPED ME APART’
Divorced Fergus lost touch with his children – then aged 19 and 17 – as he pursued his 15-year military career with the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars.
He left in 2007 after he was injured in Iraq and spent 18 months in rehabilitation – unaware he was suffering from PTSD.
Fergus then jumped at the chance to appear on the show in 2016 – believing he could be reunited with his daughter Hayley after she contacted producers.
But he claims Kyle “ripped” him apart – telling him: “Why didn’t you see your kid? Why didn’t you cry yourself to sleep every night?
“Look at your daughter, you have failed her.”
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
Fergus, who volunteers for charity Once, We Were Soldiers, claims he wasn’t offered the aftercare he was “promised” following his appearance but managed to patch things up with Hayley.
He said: “I didn’t realise what was going on with the show. It was supposed to be a family reunion.
“Jeremy Kyle absolutely ripped me apart. He said ‘you cannot use the Army as an excuse’.
“He did not even consider I might have mental health issues, he just tried to get me into a fight.
After the show I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. If it wasn’t for my kids I would have ended it.
“I am relieved the show has been taken off the air and I hope it never comes back. Mental health is a serious subject and this show exploits the most vulnerable.”
JEREMY KYLE DEATH
Since news of Steve’s death emerged, ITV pulled the episode of the Jeremy Kyle show and has halted filming and pre-production on future episodes while a review is held.
In a leaked email to staff, it was revealed the decision to suspend the programme was to “protect the show”.
Steve had gone on the show to convince fiancée Jane Callaghan he had not been unfaithful, but they split after he failed the test – with pals now fearing he took his own life.
The pensioner is believed to have taken a fatal overdose of prescription medication, which he had been prescribed for his arthritis, 10 days after appearing on the show.
Just before his death, Steve texted Jane to say he could not face life without her.
ITV said all guests on the show are given an assessment by mental health workers ahead of appearing and are supported by a “welfare team” during recording.
They are then interviewed again after the show has finished to see if they need any further support – including “rehabilitation, counselling, anger management, family mediation, child access mediation or couple counselling”.
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A spokesperson added: “In the case of The Jeremy Kyle Show, the programme has significant and detailed duty of care processes in place for contributors pre, during and post show which have been built up over 14 years, and there have been numerous positive outcomes from this, including people who have resolved complex and long-standing personal problems.
“As we have said, everyone at ITV and The Jeremy Kyle Show is shocked and saddened at the news of the death of a participant in the show a week after the recording of the episode they featured in and our thoughts are with their family and friends.
“We will not screen the episode in which they featured.
Given the seriousness of this event, ITV has also decided to suspend both filming and broadcasting of The Jeremy Kyle Show with immediate effect in order to give it time to conduct a review of this episode of the show, and we cannot comment further until this review is completed.”
IF you are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression or just want to talk, call The Samaritans on 116 123.