TV Donal’s estranged wife arrested after ‘he finds coat hook spy camera’ at home
CRIME-BUSTING TV investigator Donal MacIntyre’s estranged wife has been arrested after a spy camera disguised as a coat hook was allegedly found in his home.
Ameera, 43, has been accused of using a third party to plant the device. She is also alleged to have used 52-year-old Mr MacIntyre’s credit card without his permission to buy the hidden camera online.
It is believed the device has a tiny camera lens, microphone and microchip video recorder.
Police are investigating how the camera, which can cost as little as £10, allegedly came to be hidden in Mr MacIntyre’s Surrey home. Mrs MacIntyre is also alleged to have bought other items with her husband’s credit card.
Computers were seized at her home, where she was arrested on suspicion of theft and of allegedly possessing cocaine. Surrey Police yesterday confirmed two people had been arrested “in connection with an ongoing investigation”.
A spokeman added: “Both individuals have been released while under further investigation.”
The McIntyres married at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland, in 2006. They went through a bitter break-up in 2015 when Mrs MacIntyre accused him of being a “lying, cheating scumbag”.
The former couple have two children, with Ameera also having two children from other relationships.
She went on to date Russell Shotts, 41, a bodyguard she reportedly met when he gave her advice on security after the split.
Dublin-born Mr MacIntyre made his name as an undercover reporter whose investigations often involved hidden cameras.
His work resulted in the couple moving house more than 10 times during their nine-year marriage.
He was subject to death and kidnap threats after exposing criminals in the BBC One show MacIntyre Undercover.
Notorious
He was also victim of revenge attacks over his investigations which included uncovering sex traffickers and foiling arms traders.
In 2009 the couple were attacked by Chelsea football fans as they left a bar in west London one evening.
Mr MacIntyre was hurled to the ground and knocked unconscious over the jailing for six years of a member of the notorious Chelsea Headhunters gang, which Mr MacIntyre had infiltrated.
Mrs MacIntyre, who was suffering from a brain tumour, was badly bruised as she tried to protect him, the night before she had been due to go for a hospital scan.
His new series Donal MacIntyre’s Murder Files airs this month on the CBS Reality channel.