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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

Widow breaks silence after hubby who died 9 years ago 'spotted in restaurant last week'

A widow says she has "no doubt" her husband was spotted in an Indian restaurant's clip posted to their social media - despite being dead for nine years.

Mystery continues as Spice Cottage, a restaurant in the village of Westbourne, West Sussex, posted a video to its Facebook page last week which showed tables packed with diners enjoying their favourite dishes.

But in the comments of the video, one flabbergasted woman asked when the footage was filmed because she claimed to have spotted her late husband and his son among the diners, even though he died in 2014.

Lucy Watson, 59, said she "instantly" spotted her husband Harry Doherty - an award-winning journalist and popular larger-than-life character - but the restaurant is sticking to its guns.

Ms Watson commented on the video posted to the Spice Cottage Facebook page on January 16, alongside the caption: "New year, new mood! For the last few weeks, we've been working hard to make our dining experience even more memorable.

"Join us for a perfect blend of exquisite flavours, with classical and unique dishes inspired by ancient family recipes."

The clip posted by Spice Cottage which Ms Watson is certain shows her late husband sat at a table with his son (Spice Cottage)

And in the comments, Ms Watson asked: "How old is the footage? My late husband and his son are on the first shot and he died in 2014??"

The owners of the establishment insisted the video had been filmed earlier in the month, and wasn't nine years old.

The sighting has been compared to the famous Canoe man John Darwin who faked his own death at sea in a life insurance scam.

After hoards of social media users commented on possible explanations or ridiculous conspiracy theories, Ms Watson dismissed them and said her husband is "instantly recognisable" in the clip.

Ms Watson told MailOnline: "I don't really use Facebook apart from snooping on friends or catching up with people. I was scrolling through and the video popped up.

Lucy Watson commented on the restaurant's post after spotting her husband sat at a table (Spice Cottage)

"The moment I saw the thing I thought "Oh my God – that's Harry". It was so instant. I didn't even have to think. He'd be eating a chicken korma because that's all he ever ate.'

"There was no doubt in my mind it was my husband. I couldn't pause the thing so I had to replay it about 30 times and each time I was surer and surer."

She goes on to say her husband has a distinctive look, with a big build and white hair, while claiming the restaurant must be using old footage.

Ms Watson adds: "'They are never busy like that any more, that's the problem. They have obviously posted this to generate customers because they are really up against it now."

(Spice Cottage)

She said she was totally bemused by the restaurant's response, and the crazy theories being espoused on social media.

She said her husband died in 2014, of which there is no doubt - and she recalled him being seriously ill in hospital while waiting for a liver transplant, but sadly did not make it.

Father-of-three Mr Doherty was born in Northern Ireland and won awards for his coverage of the Troubles before moving to England where he relaunched his career as a music journalist, working for the now-defunct magazine Melody Maker.

He went on to set up his own rock magazine and become a friend of Queen guitarist Brian May after writing an official book on the band.

But the restaurant is sticking to its guns and told the Mail the footage was taken just days earlier.

The manager, Rofiqul Islam, told the newspaper that the video was shot just two weeks ago and the restaurant looks different now, with brand new tables shown in the video.

He said it was "quite an unusual situation."

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