Hadley’s harrowing text from victim’s dad

Talkback radio host Ray Hadley says he confirmed to his friend of 30 years, businessman John Singleton, that his 25-year-old daughter Dawn Singleton had been stabbed to death in the Bondi Junction attack.

Ms Singleton was one of six people stabbed to death by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney’s east on Saturday.

She had been out shopping for makeup for her upcoming wedding to NSW police officer Ashley Wildey.

Hadley said he was contacted by Mr Singleton on Saturday evening.

“I got a text from Singo about half past six, pleading for me to ring him,” he told 3AW.

“Didn’t know what it was about, we’ve been mates for 30 years.”

Hadley choked back tears as he said he rang Mr Singleton who said: “I think my Dawnie is one of those who has lost their life. I can’t confirm it, can you do something?”

Hadley said he rang the police commissioner and asked if she had the names of any of the victims.

“She said only one and confirmed that it was Dawn,” Hadley said.

“A beautiful 25-year-old girl, I’ve known her since she was born and I had the job of ringing John back and officially confirming that his dear, darling daughter had been stabbed to death by this lunatic.”

Hadley said two of his daughters had holidayed with Ms Singleton and her sister Summer in Fiji many years ago and “never forgot the time they had with them”.

He said Ms Singleton had put a deposit down on her wedding dress on Friday and her police officer fiance, Mr Wildey, was on duty when the attack happened.

“He went to the scene actually and was shepherded away by his fellow officers when they realised that it was his fiancee,” Hadley said.

“Young Ashley, as you can imagine, along with John and Julie, are in a dreadful state today and trying to come to terms with what happened.”