‘Richard’s cheating has left our girl a drink from death’
THE alcoholic daughter of TV presenter Richard Keys ‘could be one more drink away from death’ – and his cheating is to blame for her ordeal, her mother has claimed.
But as Julia Keys’s estranged husband hit back, claiming he was the victim of ‘outrageous character assassination’.
Mrs Keys, 58 said Jemma’s drinking had led to her being on a life support machine three times. The latest incident was two months ago and she now fears for the 34year-old’s life. She said: ‘Many, many times I have laid in bed planning Jemma’s funeral. I have it word by word because she has come that close.’
She was married to the former Sky Sports presenter for 36 years when she discovered he was having an affair with Jemma’s lawyer friend Lucie Rose. It caused a devastating family split.
Mrs Keys said: ‘Jemma is massively angry and hurt about what happened between her dad and her old friend. She suffers hugely with alcoholism. I always worry she could be one more drink away from death.’ To add to the family problems the mother-of-two, who is said to be speaking with Jemma’s consent, has discovered that her thyroid cancer has returned.
Yesterday Keys, 61, claimed he had been the victim of ‘outrageous character assassination.’ He said: ‘Sadly my daughter’s problems have haunted our family for 15 years or more. We’ve spent in excess of £250,000 on rehab. Jemma’s issues are at the core of my marriage break-up. My wife and I disagree on her treatment.’
He added that Lucie Rose was not Jemma’s friend as they had met only twice.