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2GB’s Ray Hadley slams Nine for airing interviews with cop killers’ daughter Madelyn Train

Nine Entertainment’s most high-profile radio host has urged his employer to stop airing ‘offensive’ interviews with the daughter of the Queensland cop killers.

Ray Hadley. Picture: Fox Sports
Ray Hadley. Picture: Fox Sports

Nine Entertainment’s most high-profile radio broadcaster has taken aim at his employer over airing multiple interviews with the daughter of the cop killers who murdered two officers and their neighbour in Queensland’s worst police shooting.

2GB’s mornings radio host, Ray Hadley, hit out at the media company for airing several interviews with Madelyn Train, whose parents Stacey and Nathaniel Train and stepfather/uncle Gary Train gunned down two police officers, Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, and neighbour Alan Dare at their Wieambilla property in Queensland’s western downs region on December 12.

Funeral service with full police honours for Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Steve Pohlner
Funeral service with full police honours for Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Hadley pleaded with Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, to stop the airing of the content which he said was offensive to the officers and neighbour killed in the shooting.

During the A Current Affair interview that was broadcast on Wednesday night, Ms Train made the bizarre claim hat her parents respected the police.

On Thursday Hadley said he had been contacted by Queensland Police who were “furious” the network had allowed the woman to be interviewed.

Nathaniel and Stacey Train's daughter Madelyn Train speaks to Channel 9.
Nathaniel and Stacey Train's daughter Madelyn Train speaks to Channel 9.

“I’ve been contacted by Queensland Police, they tell me they are stunned and perplexed as to why Channel 9 keeps giving a platform to people associated with the killers of two police officers and an innocent man, a neighbour,” he said.

“Why is this young woman, obviously grieving the loss of her mother, her father and stepfather/uncle, why has she appeared on Nine News twice and on A Current Affair last night?”

Hadley went on to air a snippet from the seven-minute A Current Affair story, where Ms Train was interviewed by the TV reporter at the property where six people died.

Reporter: “So I think it’s fair to say that they didn’t like the police?”

Train: “No that’s not fair to say, I think they had a lot of respect for the police, they didn’t respect the police officers that jumped over the fence”.

Reporter: “People don’t have a right to shoot someone that walks onto their property?”

Train: “Lots of farmers would argue differently”.

Four police officers were conducting routine police checks at the rural property when the murders of two officers and a neighbour took place.

After a five hour siege the three Train family members were shot dead by police.

Hadley pleaded with Wick, in charge of editorial content at Nine, to cease airing interviews with the woman.

“Out of respect for the dead police officers and Mr Dare can we stop it,” he said

“If it’s Darren Wick, Darren I plead to you, stop airing this stuff, it’s offensive and the coppers in Queensland and NSW don’t deserve this crap.

“Stop it, please, it’s just not right.”

Nine News boss Darren Wick. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw
Nine News boss Darren Wick. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Nine Entertainment owns 2GB but Hadley said this wouldn’t prevent him from publicly attacking his employer.

“I have declared previously that this radio station is controlled by Nine Entertainment but that doesn’t stop me from criticising other aspects of the business, be it Fairfax, they give it to us from time to time when they see fit,” he said.

Hadley went on to say he “felt sorry” for A Current Affair host Allison Langdon, who is in her first week presenting the show.

Nathaniel Train and Stacey Train on their wedding day in 1995. Picture: Channel 9
Nathaniel Train and Stacey Train on their wedding day in 1995. Picture: Channel 9

“It’s my understanding she had absolutely nothing to do with arranging that interview,” he said.

Hadley went on to stay Nine had given “two interviews with Madelyn Train, a lot of airtime and then last night for five or six minutes”.

“Another opportunity for this woman to try and justify the behaviour of these murderous bastards, it’s most unfortunate she’s related to them,” he said.

Nine Entertainment would not comment.

Queensland Police said in a statement they would not comment on Mr Hadley’s remarks but said Ethical Standards Command were leading an investigation into the Wieambilla incident.

Sophie Elsworth
Sophie ElsworthMedia Writer

Sophie is media writer for The Australian. She graduated from a double degree in Arts/Law and pursued journalism while completing her studies. She has worked at numerous News Corporation publications throughout her career including the Herald Sun in Melbourne, The Advertiser in Adelaide and The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. She began covering the media industry in 2021. Sophie regularly appears on TV and is a Sky News Australia contributor. Sophie grew up on a sheep farm in central Victoria.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/2gbs-ray-hadley-slams-nine-for-airing-interviews-with-cop-killers-daughter-madelyn-train/news-story/eceeb61e99e9ca4eb6b3acc4a6271f67