Caroline Aherne’s brother has criticised as “disgusting” claims by her former husband Peter Hook that she physically abused him during their troubled marriage.
Patrick Aherne described Hook, the former New Order bassist, as “an excuse of a man” after the musician wrote about his turbulent relationship with the Bafta-winning actor and comedian, who died from cancer in July.
Writing on Facebook, Patrick Aherne said: “I am so disgusted by the claims made by Peter Hook in most of the tabloids today. Hook was married to my sister over 20 years ago and they were divorced because the marriage did not work well.
“What sort of man would make these claims after the death of Caroline? Is this because she is not here to defend herself? Why did it take Hook 20 years to make these claims?”
Hook, 60, wrote in a new autobiography, Substance, that he was attacked with knives, bottles and chairs by Aherne during their three-year marriage.
Hook, who also co-founded Joy Division, married the writer behind Mrs Merton and the Royle Family in Las Vegas in 1994. The pair split in 1997 after “the worst argument ever” at their home in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.
He said he was left “embarrassed and ashamed” by the alleged abuse and said it triggered his spiral into depression. He wrote that he “couldn’t in all conscience” join in the tributes to her following her death, aged 52, three months ago.
But Patrick, who is 18 months older than his sister, said: “I know the general public will now realise what type of individual Hook is and I sincerely hope that they do not waste their money on his book.
“R.I.P. Caroline – the world knows you were an amazing woman. I do not think the world will be saying the same about that excuse of a man called Peter Hook.”
Hook’s revelations were met with a mixed reaction, with some fans criticising the timing of his book so shortly after Aherne’s death. His words were welcomed by a charity supporting male victims of domestic violence, which said: “Somebody of Peter Hook’s stature coming forward will make a huge difference in not only giving men the confidence to come forward but will also open society’s eyes to the fact that men as well as women are the victims of domestic violence.”
