Grief of a war widow hijacked on web to sell insurance
A HEARTBREAKING image of a British war widow in tears by her husband’s hearse has been used without her permission to flog insurance.
Heidi Kirkpatrick is furious that the picture of her distress as he clutches a white rose has been used in an advert on Facebook. Her husband Corporal Jamie Kirkpatrick, 32, was shot and killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2010.
The photograph was taken at Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, when her husband’s body was returned to Britain.
Mrs Kirkpatrick said: ‘I think it’s disgusting that they’ve done this. My husband was killed fighting for his country and now his memory is being used to try and line someone else’s pockets.’
‘It was so upsetting seeing it in being used to sell life insurance. It is so insensitive.’
The image was being used by financial advice website Net Finance Relief which is based in the United States.
A caption alongside the picture stated: ‘New policy in the UK (Over 45 only). If you don’t have life insurance, read this!’
Edinburgh-born Corporal Kirkpatrick, of 101 Engineer Regiment, was serving as part of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group when he was killed in June 2010.
Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects to the soldier – who was known by comrades as ‘KP’ – at his funeral in Llanelli, South Wales. The service featured a moving recording of Corporal Kirkpatrick’s voice reading a bedtime story to his daughter Holly, in which he told her he was ‘going to be away for a long time’ and that he loved ‘mummy’.
After his death, his fellow soldiers paid tribute to his sense of humour and professionalism.
His family released a statement, which read: ‘Jamie was a larger than life individual who was loved, loyal and loud.’
Net Finance Relief is an American website which claims to offer financial advice to those struggling with debt or who are worried about their pension.
Last night a spokesman for the firm said it was trying to reach Mrs Kirkpatrick to apologise.
He said: ‘One of our employees thought the photo was licensed for commercial use. This was not the case.
‘The images in question have been permanently removed and the employee has been reprimanded.’