Brady denied prison transfer

John Ainley, solicitor for Winnie Johnson, the mother of Moors victim Keith Bennett, said:

Terry Kilbride, whose brother John was killed by Ian Brady in 1963, said the Moors murderer should remain in hospital and be "kept alive as long as possible" because he knows where victim Keith Bennett is buried.

He said: "He should remain there, that's my honest opinion, he should remain at Ashworth.

"He knows what he's doing, he's a very clever person up there, which he will be, he's had plenty of time to learn hasn't he, he's got a law degree, he's learned German and all this, that and the other.

"But he should stay where he is, that's my honest opinion on it. I don't believe he's going to kill himself, that's just a ploy, just another wind-up.

"I think to be honest he should go back to hospital, I think that's where he belongs, in the hospital, and keep him alive as long as possible because it's only him that knows where Keith Bennett is."

Ashworth Hospital medical director Dr David Fearnley denied that Ashworth Hospital had "gone to war" with Ian Brady.

He said: "I don't think anything could be further from the truth."

"The mental health tribunal process is a legal process, but it's extremely important that we provide the best evidence we can to allow the tribunal to make the best decision it can because of the serious consequences."

Asked if the public platform of the tribunal may have exacerbated Brady's illness, Dr Fearnley said: "I think the difficulty with an individual such as Ian Brady is that he has a complex mental disorder and for many years has been able to publicise his concerns.

"However, we see this as part of an overall problem which our experts are looking into and will continue to provide expert care."

A statement by Ashworth Hospital, were Ian Brady has been told he must remain, has been read.

Dr David Fearnley said:

"We appreciate the time and effort the mental health tribunal has given to this case and its judgment is consistent with the expert opinions of our clinicians.

"Ashworth Hospital has been subject to in-depth scrutiny and the public has been able to see at first hand the quality of care which we offer to all of our patients.

"Mr Brady suffers from a severe personality disorder and a mental illness which still require high quality care

"It is a testament to the staff of Ashworth Hospital that we have been able to stabilise his schizophrenia to the degree we have. However, his condition is chronic and will require this support for the foreseeable future.

"With some of the most highly qualified and experienced psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health nursing staff in the country, Ashworth Hospital has clearly demonstrated that it provides the highest quality of care to some of the most complex mental health patients in the country.

"Every patient is detained under the Mental Health Act and all pose a danger to themselves or others.

"With a strong and demonstrable record of rehabilitation, we are able to help to protect the public and to also ensure that they, their families and carers, and the wider community, all receive the support they need to achieve the best outcomes possible for everyone."

The reasons for tribunal's not to allow Ian Brady to move to a prison will be released at a later date.

Brady had told the hearing he was merely a "a petty criminal" and described his crimes as "recreational killings" which were part of an "existential experience"

His legal application challenged the order made under the Mental Health Act when he was transferred from prison to Ashworth in 1985, when he was diagnosed as being a paranoid schizophrenic.

His legal team argued that, despite his severe personality disorder, he is not mentally ill and therefore no longer fulfils the legal criteria for detention in hospital.

Brady suggested that, if he is allowed to go back to a jail, he would be "free to end his own life" by starving himself to death.