Kirsty Gallacher responds after coming under fire for letting kids and dog play on icy pond

Smooth Radio host Kirsty Gallacher left fans stunned after posting a photo of her young son kneeling on the ice but she has returned to social media to defend herself

Presenter Kirsty Gallacher was quick to respond after she came under fire for allowing her young son and their family dog play on ice during the weekend freeze.

She uploaded pictures showing youngest son Jude, 14, kneeling down on what looked like a lake, next to the family's pet dog. Her partner Darren Clayton was there with them, as was his seven-year-old daughter. The images sparked concern on social media, with the mum-of-two asked to explain.

Kirsty, who also has 18-year-old Oscar, was met with backlash, as one follower said: "Every year sad people die and drown on thin ice ponds trying to get things for dogs." Another told her: "Absolutely gobsmacked at the lack of intelligence," while a third person put: "Come on Kirsty tell them not to do it."

The former Sky Sports star responded and assured those worried: "It was very shallow, don't worry. I wouldn't never put an animal or person in danger." Mirror Online have contacted Kirsty's reps for comment. Kirsty now works on Smooth Radio host after putting her TV career on pause.

She recently opened up to the Mirror about being a mum after her eldest turn 18 and says she’s navigating a new phase of parenthood. She said: “I embrace change. I don’t mind moving on to something different. If I feel that something’s not working, I’ll turn my hand to something else,” she explains. “Getting older has its good sides and bad sides, but there’s nothing better than watching my two boys develop and grow. It makes me very emotional.

“It’s pretty hectic, as a single parent, and it can be very challenging – but it’s wonderful, I just have to be very organised. I don’t really take advantage of downtime – my kids joke that I’m always either horizontal or vertical! There’s not a middle ground of… relaxing. I’m on the go, then I’m collapsed in bed by 9pm every night, which is hilarious.”

But she has a man in her life after falling for former rugby player Darren. Before that, she was married to Paul Sampson for five years after tying the knot in 2010. The pair went on to have Oscar and Jude but Kirsty revealed that she struggled to adapt to her new life after separating from her now ex-husband in 2015:

She said: "When I got divorced, when I separated, obviously the kids would spend time with their father, and me. I was horrendously lonely, (I was) not in a good place, very sad. Because it was completely different and I actually don't really love being on my own. I like being surrounded by family and noise."

She revealed how she has learned to enjoy time on her own. Kirsty, 48, said: "I like my peace now and I've grown to like that and enjoy it, probably purely because I'm so busy, so juxtaposed to the mania sometimes of the house, it's quite nice to have just a minute to kind of breathe."

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