Long Lasting Fear
The inhabitants of the small Cumbrian village of Arnside are in uproar, apparently. On Monday of this week they were visited by no other than Peter Sutcliffe, "The Yorkshire Ripper." He had been driven the 500 or so miles from Broadmoor high security hospital in a secure prison van, accompanied by no fewer than 4 escort officers. In fact nobody in the village was even aware that the visit had taken place, such was the level of security!Sutcliffe, who was jailed in 1981 for the murders of 13 women had been granted compassionate leave to visit the site were his dead father's ashes had been scattered, after his funeral last year. Sutcliffe, for obvious reasons, had not been allowed to attend the actual service but the recently replaced Home Secretary, David Blunkett, had allowed this visit because he thought it, "The right and proper thing to do." I didn't agree with much that Mr. Blunkett said or did, but I can't really argue with that.
However, many people think that this simple sad visit should not have been sanctioned. Either because of the "danger" to the locals or because Sutcliffe's crimes were so terrible that he should never, ever, be allowed to leave Broadmoor for any reason, not even for 1 day.
How small minded people can be. How petty. 24 years in jail and secure mental hospital, no hope of ever being released unless, like Ronnie Kray, he is let out to die. Some people can't allow themselves to understand that even someone as evil or deranged as Peter Sutcliffe ought to be able to have a once-only chance to see the last resting place of his father.
It surprises me that if a hardened politician like David Blunkett can find it within himself to have that sort of human compassion for a vicious murderer like Sutclffe, why can't the ordinary people of this country? Even more to the point, why does the news media leap up and down, petending to be morally outraged at this? A couple of MPs have been on TV decrying the Home Office's decision, on behalf of their outraged constituents. Oh yeah.........there's an election due this year isn't there?
The phrase, "Little Britain," isn't just the title of a comedy TV programme, it's a sad comment on the minds of some of our countrymen.
Peter Sutcliffe - "The Yorkshire Ripper."
posted by Eddie @ 2:38 pm
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