Peter Garsden, Head of Abuse Claims at Simpson Millar Solicitors, has commented on reports that moors murderer, Ian Brady, was allowed to come into contact with vulnerable boys at Wormwood Scrubs prison.
Newly released Home Office files reveal that Brady was able to mix with boys of ages similar to his victims, during the mid to late 1970’s.
Brady was transferred to Wormwood Scrubs in 1974 and placed on a segregation unit until he began a hunger strike in the summer of 1975, where he demanded to be moved and allowed to associate with other inmates.
Following this he was moved to the prison hospital and kept in a room on the Mental Observation Landing, known as G2.
We're rated‘Excellent’Mr. Garsden, a specialist in abuse claims said, “The revelation that Ian Brady was allowed to remain in the Mental Observation Landing of Wormwood Scrubs and allowed to have contact with young offenders sent there from Feltham Borstal is worrying, particularly in view of the view of a former employee that he was dangerous when interviewed on the Radio 4 Today Programme.
“Complaints from one former resident, that Brady had raped him, were ignored for several months. Despite recommendations he was not moved from his job as a cleaner, which entailed him having access to separate washing and toilet facilities where he could have preyed upon young mentally disturbed young offenders.”
Staff at the prison had become suspicious of Brady’s “unusual interest in any adolescent inmate” and staff had to move the boys away from him.
Brady wrote to Lord Longford in December 1977, complaining of interventions by prison staff, who wanted to see him return to segregation. Despite this, Brady remained on the Mental Observation Landing.
He was reportedly able to watch television with other inmates and given duties including the cleaning of toilets and showers.
These privileges were lost in 1981 when a young person reported that Brady had had sex with him.
According to the files, Lord Longford was supervised on several visits to Brady, including one incident in April 1976 where the visit began with Lord Longford “apologising for forgetting to bring cigarettes.”
Mr. Garsden said, “The intervention of Lord Longford on a regular basis on Brady’s behalf assisted his arguments for different treatment to that ordered by prison staff, and ensured that he was treated differently. Longford even appealed on his behalf to the then Home Secretary Roy Jenkins.
“Those prisoners who were sexually abused by Brady should seek legal advice as to their rights even though the abuse took place many years ago and Brady is dead. The prison authorities appeared to have allowed a very dangerous prisoner to have access to young offenders in a wholly inappropriate way. They also failed to respond appropriately to complaints.”
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