‘Transgender’ man arrested for celebrating murder of Catholic politician: ‘Hope it was a painful death’

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Aberdeen University employee ‘Heather’ Herbert has been arrested after posts celebrating the brutal murder of Catholic pro-life MP Ann Widdecombe went viral online.

Reform UK Immigration and Justice spokesperson Ann Widdecombe gives a speech at the Reform Party 2024 Conference at National Exhibition Centre on September 20, 2024 in Birmingham, England.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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Calvin Freiburger

Thu Jul 16, 2026 - 11:39 am EDT

ABERDEEN, Scotland (LifeSiteNews) — A transgender-identifying University of Aberdeen employee who publicly celebrated the murder of former British MP Ann Widdecombe has now been charged 

As covered last week by LifeSiteNews, the 78-year-old Widdecombe was found dead in her Devon, England, home on July 9. A suspect is in custody and being questioned, though police have released few details.

A Catholic convert and pro-life politician who served from 1987 to 2010, Widdecombe endeared herself to Britons with her surprisingly popular appearances on television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. 

As LifeSite covered Monday, in since-deleted BlueSky posts, Aberdeen web developer “Heather” Herbert, a male who identifies as female, wrote, “Some good news for once. I hope it was an extremely painful death” and “I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.”

Herbert was unapologetic in subsequent remarks to student newspaper The Gaudie, declaring, “I don’t want to see anyone murdered, but I’m still glad she is dead. I’m not a hypocrite. I posted that before the murder investigation was launched. I’m a nobody. I have no power to do anything. Ann Widdecombe was able to and made the lives of ordinary people hell.”

University officials distanced themselves from the comments, and now GB News reports that police have arrested Herbert in connection to them, reversing their original judgment that the comments were non-criminal. 

“We received reports on Saturday 11 July 2026 relating to a post made online,” a Police Scotland spokesperson said. “Following further assessment, a 50-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

More: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/transgender-man-arrested-for-celebrating-murder-of-pro-life-catholic-politician-online/