YOU can’t control what they say on social media, it seems, and heaven knows there’s been some tasteless comments there following the sentencing of mushroom murderer Erin Patterson on Monday this week.
But we should be able to draw the line when the mainstream media and allegedly reputable sites like Google Maps start taking the piss.
Last Wednesday night, on the popular Channel 7 football commentary show, The Front Bar, they opened with some tacky remarks, drawing a connection between the harsh penalties handed down to Erin Patterson and some high-profile footballers.
Also, on Google Maps, an apparently approved administrator of that site has posted the location of two restaurants in Gibson Street, Leongatha – one called ‘Erin’s Mushroom Restaurant’ and ‘Erin’s Mushroom Diner’.
Surely, someone from Google should be monitoring these things!
Here’s what comedian Mick Malloy and his offsiders Sam Pang and Andy Maher had to say:
“The biggest story of the week has to be some of the penalties handed down. I think some of these are the biggest ever, yeah, I mean 33 years to the mushroom lady, I mean wow, that is… were you expecting that?” said Malloy.
“Well, it's a big suspension. I think she was a bit hard done by. You know why Andy? Go on, Sam. Everything looks worse in slow motion, but in the heat of the action, she had a split-second decision to make. But anyway…” said Pang.
“Do you think she'll appeal it?” asked Malloy.
“Well, I don't think she'll appeal it because she risks getting another week,” said Pang.
“She can't appeal it because she went straight to the MRO, the Mushroom Review Office.
“Do you know what? I'll just say this. I'll put a cap in it, at 33 years she still won't miss a Carlton premiership,” said Malloy for Andy Maher’s benefit.
Daughter of Ian Wilkinson, the only lunch guest to survive the poisonous meal of Beef Wellington, laced with death cap mushrooms, served up by Erin Patterson, referred to the damaging media coverage of the tragic incident in her Victim Impact Statement.
“My life will never be the same. It has changed the way I interact with people and has been very isolating. The intense media coverage has left me second-guessing every word I say, worried about who I can trust with my thoughts and feelings. It is particularly revolting to experience our family's tragedy being turned into entertainment for the masses and to know that people are using our family's trauma for their own personal gain.”
Asked about some of the indelicate commentary around the mushroom murders, a well-known Leongatha resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he could understand the fascination with the bizarre events of July 2023 and also, to a certain extent, that some people remote from the local area might engage in some mostly harmless banter.
But he was aware how hurtful such comments could be to those involved.
“Thankfully, there hasn’t been too much of that locally,” he said.
Both Ian Wilkinson and Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of the convicted killer, remarked on the empathetic response locally.
“I thank the people of the Leongatha and Korumburra communities in particular, your thoughtfulness and care has been a great encouragement to us,” said Mr Wilkinson on the steps of the Supreme Court in Melbourne last Monday, September 8, following the sentencing of Erin Patterson to three terms of life in prison.
Simon Patterson made similar remarks in his Victim Impact Statement, read to the court on his behalf on Monday, August 25.
“The sensitivity of the local community in relating with our family, including by minimising their communication about us to reporters, has also been amazing. I am so grateful for this,” he said.
Erin Patterson has 28 days after her sentencing to make an appeal application.
