Apology after porn played at funeral in Cardiff

A council has apologised after pornography was accidentally played for four minutes at the funeral of a father and baby who died in a car crash.

Simon Lewis and Simon Jr were killed in a head-on collision on Lamby Way, in Cardiff, on New Year’s Eve. Hundreds of mourners were shocked when the video was played during the service, at Thornhill Crematorium in the city.

Cardiff Council, which runs the crematorium, has apologised for the incident and will investigate.

A spokeswoman said: “There were four television screens used to display visual tributes, as part of this funeral service.

"The television screen which showed the inappropriate content was recently installed, replacing a screen which was broken.

“We are trying to establish if the new screen — which is a smart television — could have accepted, or picked up a broadcast by accident, via bluetooth or across a wifi network.

"The other three screens, which aren’t smart TVs, were unaffected.

“We are clear that it isn’t possible for any member of staff to play or download anything on the computer that links to the screens in the chapel.”

The fatal crash happened on December 31, when the Lewis family’s Daihatsu Sirion collided with a blue Peugeot 307. Mr Lewis, 33, died at the scene.

His pregnant wife, Amanda, and their three-year-old daughter, survived.

The baby had to be delivered by emergency Caesarean section in hospital, but was pronounced dead on January 3.

A man has been charged with causing two deaths through dangerous driving, aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.

Kyle Kennedy, 29, of Harris Avenue, Rumney, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court earlier this month. He was remanded in custody, to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on February 5.

Mourners said: “It was around four or five minutes before they could turn it off. Everyone could not believe what they were seeing.

"Simon’s family have been through hell and back already, without having more distress.

"To the rev’s credit, he handled the situation really well. He said he had never seen such filth and apologised on behalf of the council.”