Brady’s hospital care affected by notoriety

The hospital treatment of Moors Murderer Ian Brady may have been affected by his notoriety, his mental health tribunal heard yesterday.

Staying in the same place and with the same care team for 30 years was exceptional and not a healthy position, consultant psychologist David Glasgow told the hearing.

Brady (75) has brought the tribunal because he believes he is not mentally ill and wants to be transferred to prison, away from maximum security Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside.

The child killer, who has been on hunger strike since 1999, has said previously he will be able to starve himself to death in a jail.

Mr Glasgow, called by Brady’s legal team, said he thought the current nursing care provided to Brady did not amount to treatment and the hospital’s overall therapeutic approach did not appear to have any goals.

“I was very surprised to learn he has stayed in the same place with the same team for 30 years. This is just not a healthy position.”

Mr Glasgow said in his opinion, treatment and goals need to be changed constantly.

The tribunal will determine whether Brady can be allowed to return to jail to continue serving his whole-life sentence.

Brady’s legal team assert he has a severe narcissistic personality disorder but is not mentally ill, and could be treated in prison.

Ashworth’s experts say Brady remains a paranoid schizophrenic who should stay at the hospital.

He has refused medication and therapy for his mental disorders since 2000 as he is “wholly resistant” to any treatment and now tries to hide his mental illness, the tribunal heard.