THE Scottish woman behind the iconic “stake through her heart” interview during Margaret Thatcher’s funeral has sadly passed away.
Cathy Rutherford gained overnight fame in 2013 when she was approached by Channel 4 correspondent Michael Crick on the streets of Glasgow during the former Prime Minister’s funeral.
Cathy, a Glasgow-born woman who harboured a strong opinion on the divisive “Iron Lady”, stole the show with her brutal honesty of how she felt about Thatcher’s death, claiming that she’d “put a stake through her heart and garlic round her neck to make sure she never comes back”.
Trade unionist Cathy subsequently became a niche Scottish cult hero with the clip going on to circulate round social media for years to come.
Cathy’s niece, Jackie English, yesterday announced however, that her beloved aunt had sadly suddenly passed away.
Mum-of-two Jackie shared the sad news online, writing: “It’s with great sadness that my auntie Cathy (Rutherford) has very suddenly passed away this week.
“Born in Glasgow, my auntie Cathy was a trade unionist to the core and remained politically active her whole life.
“This famous clip shows you exactly where she stood.”
Jackie accompanied the tribute with the famous clip of her aunt who was stopped on the street during Thatcher’s funeral on 17 April 2013, which shows Cathy standing in the rain with her umbrella in hand.
With Cathy seemingly already mid-rant before the camera started rolling, interviewer Michael Crick then poses the question: “You don’t think [Thatcher] did any good?”
Cathy doesn’t hold back in her retort, as she says: “Not a bit of good. Not a bit.”
This initial reply seems to stun Crick as silence falls on the interview for a fleeting moment before Cathy viciously doubles down.
The OAP hilariously compares Thatcher to a vampire as she adds: “I’d put a stake through her heart and garlic round her neck to make sure she never comes back.”
Following her famous comment, an audibly shocked Crick responds: “Isn’t that a pretty horrible thing to say when her funeral is going on right now?”
Cathy replies, staunch as ever in her views, “Too bad, too bad” unbothered by the brutality of her own assessment.
The sad announcement of Cathy’s passing received over 29,000 likes and more than 500 comments from social media users who hailed her as a “queen” and a “legend” by fellow Scots.
One user said: “True to herself. A queen. May she rest in peace.”
Another commented: “Your auntie was a legend, sending love.”
A third wrote: “Rest in peace to an absolute legend. May her memory be a blessing.”
Another added: “Sorry for your loss Jackie. Cathy looked like a formidable woman.”
A fifth replied: “Undoubtedly a lady with great morals and an advocate of equality. This clip struck a chord here in Liverpool.
“May Cathy rest in peace. I’m sure you and your family are very proud her.”
