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Moors murderer Ian Brady addresses mental health tribunal Moors Murderer Ian Brady attacks treatment
(35 minutes later)
Moors Murderer Ian Brady is giving evidence to a tribunal over his mental health. Moors Murderer Ian Brady has told a mental health tribunal he has been misdiagnosed as mentally ill.
It is the first time he has spoken publicly for nearly 50 years. Brady, speaking publicly for the first time in 47 years, said his actions were interpreted by "opportunistic" doctors and nurses as signs of mental illness.
The 75-year-old argues he is no longer mentally ill and should be moved from a high-security hospital to prison. Brady - wearing a suit and tie, and dark glasses - says he should be moved from a high-security hospital to jail.
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. Along with his accomplice Myra Hindley, Brady, now 75, tortured and murdered five children aged between 10 and 17.
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. The pair buried some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District.
Brady 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.Proceedings are being relayed to the press and public on TV screens at Manchester Civil Justice Centre.
The killer told the tribunal that he talked to himself when alone, just like many other people.
He said he had been in solitary confinement for a while in prison and would occupy his days by memorising pages of Shakespeare and Plato - and then recite them aloud as he walked up and down in his cell.
He said that any similar activity in Ashworth was seen as a sign of mental illness and then used against him.
"If I interact with the TV, Tony Blair or something on, and make any comment, this is interpreted as psychosis.
"And who doesn't talk to themselves? This is a question people very rarely ask."
Asked why he wanted to leave Ashworth, he said he hated it because "the regime has changed to a penal warehouse".
"They give you false drugs and turn you into a zombie," he added.
Brady, who never looked up during the opening half hour of his evidence, spoke carefully in a soft and quiet Scottish accent.
The tribunal had earlier heard that Brady sometimes blocks out the world by listening to white noise on headphones - but he told the tribunal it was a "simply pragmatic" decision to make conditions more tolerable.
He said his resistance of the regime at Ashworth began in 1999 after he says he was assaulted by a group of riot-gear clad warders who were moving him from one unit to another.
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.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 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. Brady 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". The serial killer, who said he had mixed down the years with the notorious Kray twins and IRA terrorists, said his relationship with other patients was "unremarkable".
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. Compared to "the authorities", most prisoners were "perfectly mentally healthy", he added.
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. 'Makes toast'
"'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.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.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.