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Shipman letters sale criticised Shipman letters sale criticised
(about 22 hours later)
The coroner who held the inquests into the deaths of Harold Shipman's victims has condemned a decision to auction a collection of letters by the killer.The coroner who held the inquests into the deaths of Harold Shipman's victims has condemned a decision to auction a collection of letters by the killer.
In 65 letters to two former patients and friends after his arrest in 1998, Shipman repeatedly denied his guilt.In 65 letters to two former patients and friends after his arrest in 1998, Shipman repeatedly denied his guilt.
Coroner John Pollard said the sale of the "arrogant" letters was "raking it up again" for families of his victims.Coroner John Pollard said the sale of the "arrogant" letters was "raking it up again" for families of his victims.
Former GP Shipman, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, is believed to have killed as many as 250 patients. GP Shipman, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, killed up to 250 patients. Others have also criticised the sale.
Father Denis Maher, of St Paul's Church in Hyde, where some victims were churchgoers, called the auction "insensitive".
He added: "It's going to open up a lot of old wounds and put a lot of people through suffering."
Someone gaining by putting these letters up for sale I find appalling Father Denis Maher
The correspondence, addressed to Mavis and David Stott, friends and patients of Shipman, was discovered by chance during a house clearance in 2006.The correspondence, addressed to Mavis and David Stott, friends and patients of Shipman, was discovered by chance during a house clearance in 2006.
He was arrogant about time, he was arrogant about the investigation, he was arrogant about the interviews which were carried out, he was arrogant about me Coroner John Pollard The never-before-seen letters emerged after the son of Mr and Mrs Stott found them as he cleared their homes after their deaths.
Shipman began writing to the couple shortly after his arrest in September 1998 and continued up until one month before he killed himself in Wakefield Prison in 2004.
Father Maher was also given a number of letters written by Shipman from a parishioner, which he refuses to show.
The letters were written up until a month before his death in 2004
He added: "Someone gaining by putting these letters up for sale I find appalling."
The letters will be auctioned on 10 November in Knutsford, Cheshire.The letters will be auctioned on 10 November in Knutsford, Cheshire.
Nick Hall, of Frank Marshall and Co auctioneers, believes they offer a "fascinating" glimpse into his psyche.Nick Hall, of Frank Marshall and Co auctioneers, believes they offer a "fascinating" glimpse into his psyche.
But Mr Pollard, coroner for south Manchester, said: "It must come again as a great sadness for the families who lost relatives to his crimes."But Mr Pollard, coroner for south Manchester, said: "It must come again as a great sadness for the families who lost relatives to his crimes."
'Glory days'
He told BBC News: "The tone of [the letters] is summed up as arrogance and that I think... was how he was at the time.He told BBC News: "The tone of [the letters] is summed up as arrogance and that I think... was how he was at the time.
He was arrogant about time, he was arrogant about the investigation...he was arrogant about me Coroner John Pollard
"He was arrogant about time, he was arrogant about the investigation, he was arrogant about the interviews which were carried out, he was arrogant about me."He was arrogant about time, he was arrogant about the investigation, he was arrogant about the interviews which were carried out, he was arrogant about me.
The letters were written up until a month before his death in 2004
"He said I was snatching my glory days. All I was doing was carrying out the legal duty that I know.""He said I was snatching my glory days. All I was doing was carrying out the legal duty that I know."
The never-before-seen letters emerged after the son of Mr and Mrs Stott found them as he cleared their homes after their deaths.
Shipman began writing to the couple shortly after his arrest in September 1998 and continued up until one month before he killed himself in Wakefield Prison in 2004.
Shipman went undetected as he killed his elderly patients in and around Hyde, certifying their deaths as natural causes.Shipman went undetected as he killed his elderly patients in and around Hyde, certifying their deaths as natural causes.
He was convicted of 15 counts of murder but an inquiry chaired by Dame Janet Smith found he killed an estimated 215 people between 1971 and 1998.He was convicted of 15 counts of murder but an inquiry chaired by Dame Janet Smith found he killed an estimated 215 people between 1971 and 1998.