Monday 2 August 2010

Ian Huntley's rights

Prisoners have rights. When Ian Huntley had his throat cut by another inmate it may have been that the prison authorities were partly to blame and that they failed in their duty to protect him from harm. I don't know the details but let's say for a moment that he wins his case and receives £100 000 (which would be ridiculous). I don't think he should receive an amount that is far in excess of that received by the families of his victims. If there is a legal case for this then the law needs changing.

The reaction that I saw on the news was one of fury. This reaction was from people who live in Soham but I think opinions would have been similar in any town. He has tried to take his life three times. Is there a case for him suing the authorities because they failed to stop him from hurting himself? The world may have gone mad. It just seems wrong but I may have an answer.

Don't stop prisoners having human rights - they are humans. However if they have money then let them pay for the costs of their incarceration. I felt that it was also wrong when Jeffrey Archer was in prison and writing bestsellers. He spent a lot of his time in isolation while he was writing, but this was hardly a punishment for him as this is how he writes. As for Ian Huntley, £100 000 may not go far for in paying for his security.

Change the world

1 comment:

  1. I think it is disgusting that he should be given the chance to claim compensation, especially when he has tried to take his own life. The world is crazy. The families of the two little girls must be fuming, and I don't blame them in the slightest.

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