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Moors murderer Ian Brady addresses mental health tribunal | Moors murderer Ian Brady addresses mental health tribunal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Moors Murderer Ian Brady is giving evidence to a tribunal over his mental health. | Moors Murderer Ian Brady is giving evidence to a tribunal over his mental health. |
It is the first time he has spoken publicly for nearly 50 years. | It is the first time he has spoken publicly for nearly 50 years. |
The 75-year-old argues he is no longer mentally ill and should be moved from a high-security hospital to prison. | The 75-year-old argues he is no longer mentally ill and should be moved from a high-security hospital to prison. |
Brady, along with his accomplice Myra Hindley, tortured and murdered five children aged from 10 to 17, burying some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District. | Brady, along with his accomplice Myra Hindley, tortured and murdered five children aged from 10 to 17, burying some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District. |
The serial killer, wearing a suit and tie, and dark glasses, is speaking at the final day of the tribunal, which is sitting at Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospital in Maghull, Merseyside, where he has been held since 1985. | |
Proceedings are being relayed to the press and public on TV screens at Manchester Civil Justice Centre. | |
Asked how he had spent his time in prison over the years, he said he had studied psychology and German and had worked on braille texts for many years. | |
He said he had also worked as a barber at Wormwood Scrubs before he was sent to Ashworth. | |
He said he stayed in his "cell" for longer periods of time after seizures and other illnesses had debilitated him in Ashworth. | |
And he criticised his treatment at the hospital, saying he "can't stand robotic, feeble psychiatrists". | |
Brady said he had been in solitary confinement for a while in prison and would memorise whole pages of Shakespeare and Plato and recite them to himself. | |
He said that, while prison warders never commented, if he talked or muttered to himself in Ashworth it was interpreted by "opportunistic" staff as mental illness. | |
"'Who doesn't talk to themselves?" he asked the tribunal. | |
Brady's legal team say he has a severe personality disorder but is not mentally ill and could be treated in prison rather than hospital. | Brady's legal team say he has a severe personality disorder but is not mentally ill and could be treated in prison rather than hospital. |
But staff at Ashworth say he remains a paranoid schizophrenic who should stay at the hospital. | But staff at Ashworth say he remains a paranoid schizophrenic who should stay at the hospital. |
His reasons for wanting to return to prison remain unclear, although it is thought he might try to starve himself to death in prison. | His reasons for wanting to return to prison remain unclear, although it is thought he might try to starve himself to death in prison. |
He has been on hunger strike since 1999 but doctors at Ashworth can force-feed Brady through a tube in his nose under mental health law. | He has been on hunger strike since 1999 but doctors at Ashworth can force-feed Brady through a tube in his nose under mental health law. |
On Monday, a nurse told the tribunal that, despite his hunger strike, Brady often took the food made available to him, and he "makes himself toast every morning". | On Monday, a nurse told the tribunal that, despite his hunger strike, Brady often took the food made available to him, and he "makes himself toast every morning". |
The judgement of the panel will be released at a later date yet to be fixed. | The judgement of the panel will be released at a later date yet to be fixed. |
The last time Brady was heard in public was in 1966 at Chester Assizes, where he denied the murders. | |
He was eventually found guilty of three of the murders and jailed for life. He and Hindley later confessed to the other two. Hindley died in prison in 2002, aged 60. |