Killed teen’s parents in Black ‘snub’
Sports presenter hits back at ex-wife’s claims
INQUEST Robert Black THE parents of schoolgirl Genette Tate were not told her suspected killer’s inquest begins today.
She went missing aged 13 in August 1978 on a paper round in Devon.
Serial killer Robert Black, from Stirlingshire, was to have been charged with her murder when he died aged 68 in 2016.
He was in jail in Northern Ireland for killing four girls in the 1980s.
But Genette’s parents, John Tate and Sheila Cook, who separated, were not told of the inquest. John, 76, of Manchester, said he felt “forgotten about”.
A spokesman for the Office of the Lord Chief Justice in Northern Ireland said the coroner did not consider family members of alleged victims “properly interested persons”. SPORTS pundit Richard Keys has hit back at claims that him having an affair made his daughter’s battle with alcohol worse.
The former Sky Sports presenter, 61, also denied that his lover had been a friend of Jemma’s.
It comes after ex-wife Julia Keys said their daughter was “angry” and hurt” by his affair and she feared Jemma was “one drink from death”.
Richard said yesterday: “Sadly my daughter’s problems have haunted our family for 15 years or more.
“Those that know us well would tell you that we have tried everything to help her. We’ve spent in excess of £250,000 on rehab. I have never come up short on family matters.”
In 2011 Richard quit Sky Sports after being recorded making sexist remarks.
The TV host moved to Qatar, in the Middle East, where he reportedly earns £420,000 a year at Al Jazeera sports. In 2016, Julia learned he had been dating lawyer Lucie Rose for 18 months. The pair now live together in Qatar.
Julia spoke out at the weekend with the consent of Jemma, 34. The former Hollyoaks star’s addiction has seen her drink three bottles of wine in a day, as well as vodka.
Julia, 58, said she had planned Jemma’s funeral in her head, adding of Richard’s affair: “As an emotional trigger, it’s definitely made it much harder for her to remain sober.”
Responding in a statement, Richard said: “Jemma’s issues are at the core of my marriage break-up.
“My wife and I disagree on her treatment. Quite simply, I refuse to ‘enable’ her with her problems any further. Those with addictions will understand what I mean.”
He went on: “Lucie Rose is not my daughter’s friend. They met twice, once in Qatar when I asked her and her friend to look after Jemma on a night out. It went horribly wrong.
“Lucie later went to see Jemma in London to see if she could help with her addictions. Sadly she couldn’t, but she wanted to try. That’s it.”
In 2013, Jemma was ordered to do community service after attacking her mum. She previously received a three-year road ban for drinkdriving and faced court accused of punching a paramedic.
Jemma said over the weekend that addiction “ruins your family, your friends and, most importantly, yourself ”.
Richard, who has worked at talkSPORT with Andy Gray, also spoke of leaving Sky. He said: “I resigned on a matter of principle. I did my time. I rebuilt with the help of fantastic employers at home and in Qatar.”
CO-STARS Andy Gray & Richard at talkSPORT RICHARD KEYS DENIES CLAIM THAT HE ADDED TO JEMMA’S ALCOHOL BATTLE
We have tried everything to help her, I have never come up short on family matters