Granada Moors Murders

The family of Moors Murder victim John Kilbride are marking the 50th anniversary of his disappearance. The 12 year old was kidnapped and later killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. His family are holding a private ceremony later.

The Moors Murderer, Ian Brady, has written a 700-word letter in which he condemns a mental health tribunal's decision to keep him locked in a secure hospital.

Brady describes the tribunal as "£250,000 wasted by Ashworth medical mediocrities manipulating a politically motivated tribunal... designed to distract public attention from the lack of reasoned argument and pertinent evidence."

The killer sent the letter to Channel 5 News. In it, he criticises those who gave evidence: "'The pathetic petty abuse... rubberstamp witnesses employed to smear, discredit and distract, revealed more about Ashworth's collective culture of applied ignorance and malice than it did about me."

Brady continues by writing: "Those listening in the real world would have doubted their senses."

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."