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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not feel any compassion for Ronnie Biggs?

175 replies

wannaBe · 07/08/2009 09:37

If he hadn't done a runner to Brazil he would have served his sentence by now and would have been out by now anyway.

The only reason he came back was to receive treatment on the nhs.

Why on earth should a man who has committed a crime, has evaded capture for 30 years be set free?

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 07/08/2009 11:29

I hope jack straw doesnt read this thread, he will start lettin everyone else out. Second, third + fourth chance and all that crap.

heavenstobetsy · 07/08/2009 11:30

I am sorry MC, but yes he should! In your scenario, whilst he didn't inflict the blow, he saw it and did nothing about it ...... and infact continued to profit from it with the stolen takings

If you choose not to tell the truth about what happened and distance yourself from the action then you choose to make yourself part of the act and should accept the consequences

Original poster
wannaBe · 07/08/2009 11:32

so all non murderers should be freed before death then mc?

Armed robbers? rapests? burglers? muggers? They haven't killed anyone and often move in gangs thus meaning that only one of their gang has the weapon - does that make the others innocent and worthy of compassion?

OP posts:
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/08/2009 11:33

did anyone read this? the last bit more so.

Giovanni di Stefano said 79-year-old Biggs, who is in Norwich Hospital with pneumonia, was ?seriously ill? and was too sick to be operated upon.

He said: ?It is serious. He is really ill and anything could happen. He is nearly 80 years old. He's had strokes, a brain haemorrhage and now he's got pneumonia. They can't operate on him because he might not recover.?

Mr di Stefano's warning came ahead of Mr Straw's decision on whether to give approval for Biggs, who becomes eligible for release on Friday, to be freed from custody.

HarrietTheSpy · 07/08/2009 11:35

YANBU!

nellynaemates · 07/08/2009 11:39

So although he was originally sentenced to 30 years (hugely excessive, but then the British justice system see property as far more important than people) he has actually served about 9 years all in all.

For those emphasising the attack on the driver, what do you think he would have been sentenced to for being in a group of people where one of them caused the driver actual/grievous bodily harm? Would it have been more than 9 years?

People get out after rape and manslaughter after less time.

I don't have a huge amount of sympathy with him, but I see no reason why he shouldn't be released.

MadameCastafiore · 07/08/2009 11:39

He didn't rape anyone wannabe, he was involved in a crime against a business - stealing money not one against a person - another of his gang was responsible for that. But yes I suppose he scared people to carry out the robbery but again is that really bad enough to be jailed for longer than a murderer gets?

I think everyone is worthy of compassion to some degree or we end up being the same as animals baying for blood.

Tiredmumno1 · 07/08/2009 11:45

maybe they will give him a big free house, with carers to care for him, oh + lots of taxpayers money for him to spend.

scottishmummy · 07/08/2009 11:45

compassion were it is merited.not apologists for career criminals who happen to be dying.he should go to health care wing in prison and reamin there

the point of prison is punitive and containment.briggs had his jollies in brazil

beanieb · 07/08/2009 11:48

"he is legally and morally jointly responsible for the attack on the train driver, who never recovered" he never recovered because he died from something else.

MadameCastafiore · 07/08/2009 11:48

No tiredmummy - he probably doesn't want that and will not get it, he probably wants someone just to stroke his hand whilst he passes away.

beanieb · 07/08/2009 11:49

Edam, what was your dad's job? Why was he visiting the injured man?

Tiredmumno1 · 07/08/2009 11:51

I am guessing thats what his son is there for mc

scottishmummy · 07/08/2009 11:51

what sentimental apologist drivel.oh diddums he just wants his hand held

not a dry eye in the house after that wee schlocky outburst

you care so much? you do it

edam · 07/08/2009 12:01

At the time, he was a trainee manager. British Rail felt an obligation to their employee, the driver, and sent people to sit with him. They were a good employer.

But my Dad is also a qualified driver - steam engines are his hobby.

edam · 07/08/2009 12:02

Beanie - the driver never recovered from his injuries and was left permanently disabled and in pain.

Kayzr · 07/08/2009 12:16

I know I am coming to this late but I have no compassion at all. If that makes me sound like a bitch then so be it. Maybe if he should have thought about dying in prison before he commited his crime.

oopsagain · 07/08/2009 13:25

if he was so sorry and felt that the sentance was unjust..why didn't he come back and appeal the sentence????

TheLadyEvenstar · 07/08/2009 13:33

He was not left permanently disabled fgs he was in pain yes from headaches...but thats not a disability. And lets not forget he died from NOT the injuries but Luekemia...2 very different things.

beanieb · 07/08/2009 13:54

jack mills

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 07/08/2009 13:54

so-if you had headaches so bad that you were unable to work again ladyevenstar-then that would bve something minor?
because they didn't have the diagnostic tools we have now-we don't know what kind of damage was done to that poor man.

ronnie biggs was not a young innocent caught up in something a bit off.

he was a hardened criminal who helped plana robbery that had-as part of it's plan-the assault of an inocent man. he COULD have died. he didn't -he was seriously imjured and traumatised.

ronnie biggs-did not then serve his time. he escaped and headed off to brazil where he lived the life of riley and constantly got himself in the papers taunting our country.

his son was born to a woman who slept with him despite knowing who he was and what he had done.

he onl;y came back to get free treatment to which he has no entitlement.

i have no sympathy for him whatsoever and he should NOT have been released.

scottishmummy · 07/08/2009 13:55

is physical disability the only measure of trauma?what about the shock,fear,stress of this attack.dont underestimate chronic pain,it is really debilitating to live with headaches

i dont get why you are at such pains to minimise and excuse these events

LouMacca · 07/08/2009 13:55

I wasnt sure how I felt about Ronnie Biggs before I read this thread. But having read through it and getting more information about the crime, etc. I think YANBU.

KIMItheThreadSlayer · 07/08/2009 14:00

Simple answer would have been not to accept him back to be a drain on an already over stretch NHS.

Saying that though if he committed the same crime today he would have got 7 years and all been done with.

abraid · 07/08/2009 14:01

'British Rail felt an obligation to their employee, the driver, and sent people to sit with him'

That's very touching, Edam.