The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Current affairs

Ian Brady says he was “method acting” to avoid jail

Ian Brady says he was “method acting” to avoid jail
27 June 2013
Molly Kersey
Avatar
Molly Kersey
27 June 2013

Speaking in public for the first time since his murder trial in 1966, infamous serial killer Ian Brady denied that he was mentally ill and claimed that he had been “method acting” at the time he was diagnosed with his mental illness.

Brady, responsible for torturing and killing five youths aged between 10 and 17 with his accomplice Myra Hindley,  claims to have carried out the pretence of insanity “over a period of approximately eighteen months” in order to get transferred from a high security prison to Ashworth Psychiatric Hospital.

He addressed a mental health tribunal with the intention of being moved back to the high security prison, speaking critically of Ashworth and saying that he “can’t stand robotic, feeble psychiatrists”.

He denied suffering from paranoia and hallucinations, stating that the authority figures in the prison “give you drugs and turn you into a zombie”. When speaking about talking to himself, he simply replied: “who doesn’t?”

Speaking more about his paranoia, he alleged: “That’s not paranoid. That’s sensible precautions. I’m not protecting myself against other inmates, I’m protecting myself against the staff.” He added that “in a captive environment, paranoia is unavoidable. Only the prison authorities call it paranoia, prisoners call it sensible precautions”.  

Asked why he wanted to leave Ashworth, Brady stated that “the regime has changed to a penal warehouse” saying that he hated it for this reason and argued that there was a conspiracy to “prove” he was mentally ill. He added: “Manufactured psychosis is the linchpin for keeping me…. in a mental hospital.”

Brady, who currently has a feeding tube in his right nostril,  refused to confirm or deny whether he intended to kill himself if he was returned to prison but has previously expressed his wish to starve himself to death in prison where he cannot be force fed. 

Authorities maintain that Brady should remain where he is at Ashworth because he is mentally ill and a paranoid schizophrenic requiring round-the-clock care. His own legal team continue to argue that while he has severe narcissistic personality disorder, and could be treated in a prison rather than a mental hospital. 

Molly Kersey

Related Items

More in Current Affairs

Women of Ireland have rolled over for long enough: The 8th and the long walk to abortion rights

Emma Kiely
Read More

Changes to expect during menopause

The editorial unit
Read More

Why Equity Linked Savings Schemes is a preferred tax saving?

The editorial unit
Read More

How the world’s top designers would rebrand political parties

The editorial unit
Read More

Royal baby furore: Proof that the British monarchy is still popular?

Eoin O’Sullivan-Harris
Read More

World Mental Health Day 2018: Raising awareness and combating stigma

The editorial unit
Read More

Seven political personalities you should know about

The editorial unit
Read More

Donald Trump: An enemy of the arts?

The editorial unit
Read More

Trump’s fortune: Where did the money come from?

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Paolo Nutini – Last Night in the Bittersweet
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Viagra Boys – Cave World
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Ithaka
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Wayfinder
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Brian and Charles
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Paolo Nutini – Last Night in the Bittersweet
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Viagra Boys – Cave World
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Railway Children Return
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Adele lights up Hyde Park for BST Festival
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

George Osborne announces a further £11.5bn in cuts
Nelson Mandela confirmed to be on life support