[Denver]

A heartbroken family were unable to give their dead son a fitting send-off because Apple refused to unlock the iPad containing his funeral wishes.

Liam Wright, 18, who died of bone cancer in December, had noted his last wishes on the tablet because he couldn't bear to talk about it in person with his family.

But his relatives, of Brotton, North Yorkshire, were forced to have the service without knowing what he wanted - because Apple reportedly would not unlock the device after a software update.

A heartbroken family were unable give their dead son Liam Wright, 18, a fitting send-off because Apple refused to unlock the iPad containing his funeral wishes

Liam's sister Kerry Lamb explained that they knew Liam had made a few notes about the service on his iPad.

'He hadn't want to speak about it - we knew he was dying and he knew he was dying - but it was not a conversation he wanted to have,' she told the Daily Mirror.

Ms Lamb revealed how the much-loved teenager, described as a 'gentle giant', had stored hundreds of precious photos and videos on his iPad.

She said they have 'hit a brick wall' with the 'ridiculous' media giant in their battle to get into the device for those last memories of Liam.

She said they have 'hit a brick wall' with the media giant in their battle to get into the device to have those last memories of Liam


The family asked Liam for the code to his tablet but he was too ill to respond, which is why they contacted the media firm.

Apple did not help and - when asked a second time - refused to unlock it unless the family sent them a death certificate and solicitor's letter which cost them £120, Ms Lamb claimed.

She claimed Apple then told them they had not sent the relevant information and now want a court order costing them £360.

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Apple for comment.

Ms Lamb said Liam's mother Jane became upset, telling the technology giant that their actions were 'wrong'.

'Mum spoke to them and said "You can't do this it's wrong. How would you feel if it was photos of your son?" she said.

'She's not too bad at the moment but it gets her very upset when she sees other people's photos of Liam and she can't even access her own.'

Liam died on December 7, surrounded by his mother Jane, sisters, Kerry, and Kirsty, and nieces and nephews, Sean, Tyler and Aisha.

He had contracted a rare type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma after getting injured playing football.

Liam, who dreamed of becoming a personal trainer and working with children who 'didn’t fit the sporting category', didn't tell his friends his cancer was terminal to save them from worrying.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...on-s-iPad.html

[UserSince2005]

tbh if i was to die tomorrow I would not want my parents gaining access to my phone.

Theres a lot of **** on it haha

good on apple.

Stand up for our rights.

[Wizard.]

Why did he have it locked if he knew there was information on there that his family would need?

[Niamh.]

That's a tough one, i guess they're protecting his right to privacy when he can't be asked to give his permission for the ipad to be unlocked now and they'd only be taking his parents word for it that his funeral wishes were on there? Sad for them though

[Tom4784]

I can understand Apple's point of view, they can't be seen giving out private information unless ordered to otherwise they could set an untenable precedent that could easily be abused for nefarious means and could also lead to a lack of trust from consumers.

I feel for the family, I really do but Apple's hands are tied.

[Shaun]

Yeah it's just an uncomfortable scenario all around really and - without wanting to sound heartless - he and they should have made easily accessible plans. Perhaps with pen and paper.

[Greg!]

It's sad but why didn't he just tell them his passcode before he died

[Marsh.]

Did they try "1, 2, 3, 4"?

[user104658]

Err they could just have paid any half decent code kiddie £100 and it would be wide open in a couple of hours.

[ebandit]

....sad the lad died.............still could provide a grand send off

.........it's their son surely they must have a good idea of his wishes

Mark L

[Vicky.]

If they won't unlock them for suspected terrorists then they aren't going to do it for a dead person tbf. Though why have stuff like that on a locked device anyway

[Northern Monkey]

You heartless bastards