The Press Complaints Commission has ruled that the Daily Mirror did not infringe the privacy of Moors murderer Ian Brady by publishing material taken from his private letters.
On 23 May, the Mirror published a front-page story headlined: “Inside the mind of a madman” based on letters sent by Brady to another individual who provided them to the Mirror.
The letters included Brady’s hope that the IRA might reactivate and his believe that Ismamist terror groups lacked commitment.
Clause three of the Editors’ Code states that everyone is entitled to respect for his or her “private and family life, home, health and correspondence”.
Rejecting Brady’s complaint the PCC said: “The complainant was one of the most notorious individuals in the country, who had committed a series of serious criminal acts almost half a century ago.”
It added: “As such, the commission considered that the complainant could be regarded as a ‘public personality’, a figure whose criminal activities, detention, medical condition (especially relating to his mental health) and treatment were properly the subject of ongoing legitimate discussion and examination. There was, therefore, a general public interest inherent in publishing information that added to this discussion.”
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