I just want to help heal, psychic tells sceptics
A CELEBRITY psychic who wants to contact earthquake and Pike River coalmine victims beyond the grave says she only wants to help families heal, despite criticism by sceptics.
Australian Sensing Murder psychic Deb Webber will hold a free ‘‘private reading’’ on Monday for families of those killed in the February 2011 quake and another for Pike River mine disaster families in Greymouth next month.
NZ Skeptics spokeswoman Vicki Hyde said the sessions were ‘‘another sick example’’ of exploitation by the psychic industry, us- ing vulnerable, grieving families as ‘‘a marketing drive’’ for free publicity. ‘‘It’s as bad as any of those shonky finance companies putting up free investment evenings – and it’s about as useful. No doubt at some point she will also be selling her services . . .’’
Webber, who is on a ‘‘Hope and Heal’’ New Zealand tour, said she ‘‘can’t understand’’ the criticism.
‘‘People need healing. I never want to cause anyone more grief.’’
Most of the Pike River victims families would attend the Greymouth session, and about 35 people had confirmed in Christchurch.
Mark Maynard, whose wife, Kelly, was killed in the Pyne Gould Corporation building collapse last year, had tickets but would ‘‘decide on the day’’ whether he would go.
‘‘It would be quite interesting to see what she says. When I replied, they asked me what my wife’s name was. They could Google the name and everything would come up. They know before the start.’’
Marie Malone-Foldesi, whose husband, Ian Foldesi, died on the Port Hills, was not aware of the meeting, but did not see the harm if it could bring solace.
Murray Grant, whose
wife, Jane, died in the Canterbury Television building collapse, said he had considered seeing a psychic, but it ‘‘depends on how it was done’’. He said he would not go ‘‘if it was in front of other people; it’s a very personal thing.’’
Pike River mine families spokesman Bernie Monk, who lost son Michael in the tragedy, said he had never been to a psychic but decided to attend Webber’s session because he had ‘‘nothing to lose’’.
Webber said those who attended were not guaranteed to get in contact with their loved ones.