Gordon Brown, much to the annoyance of President Obama, permitted the early release from prison of al Megrahi, the Lockerbie Bomber. This early release, like that of Ronnie Biggs the Great Train Robber, was on Human Rights grounds. Before their release, the fate of their victims was hardly considered.
It is now rumoured that Bernard Madoff thinks he does not have long to live. He has just started serving his sentence of 150 years in prison for a gigantic fraud, perjury and false reporting. Can anyone believe a liar like that, or give him an early release on Human Rights grounds ?
I hope President Obama will clearly spell out the rules for early release from prison. I hope his rules take into account the long term suffering of the victims of crime.
A clear pronouncement on this subject is sorely needed, in Britain at this particular point in time and in Europe also. Everyone wants Human Rights. However, is there not a point in time when criminals forfeit some of their Human Rights ?
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