A three day debate was held at Dumfries Sheriff Court at the end of June. Many decent people stood outside the court outraged by the actions of a convicted serial rapist ex-police inspector who's trying to regain his full police pension. The sob story he's used about his two sons ...well the boys are victims too - both now 'grown up,' as in over the age of 18. These lads are victims of the behaviour and criminal activities of their father. Adam Carruthers chose to do this to them too.
I had always thought that the job of the police was to prevent crime and to protect the public. Carruthers did exactly the opposite - he committed crimes and hurt a goodly number of women whilst he was on duty as a police officer. L&B Police traced 38 victims in their inquiries.
Carruthers arguments are beyond me - violation of his human rights? His actions were entirely his own choice. He will not accept responsibility for his own actions like any decent human being does. In this case I feel that the ECHR could not apply to Carruthers. After all, did he consider the human rights of all of his victims and the effect of his actions on them? Many of his victims will not have a pension due to his atrocious behaviour. Sadly some of them have committed suicide.
A decision on this case will be made by the Sheriff in the autumn, but I have been warned that whoever loses is very likely to take this to the Court of Session in Edinburgh. If this all goes against Carruthers, I am told he is likely to take it to the European Court of Human Rights if his generous amount of legal aid so far granted still allows.
So after the debate ......we all continue to wait. Nothing new there then for all the victims, their families and those decent people who are funding his case through the use of legal aid.
Saturday 11 July 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Dear dear Jane
I hope that reason and wisdom prevail and that the man gets what he deserves as a pension-----nothing.
I am sending all good things your way--you've been in my thoughts.
xox
No way! What a waste of money. Disgusting to even try to get something he doesn't deserve ...and it's not his to have.
Anon - pleased you feel exactly the same way. It's madness isn't it? Only time will tell.
Hi Debra, good to hear from you. I too hope they reach a sensible decision .....but I'm not holding my breath. Thanks for your kind thoughts. Jane xxx
Missed this one. I'm amazed at the rights of the offender. Seemingly endless. Scottish justice is on its head.
Amazing Jane - well done, specially for those of us who never got our say in court. Keep going - this blog is good.
waste of space - put the bast**s down.
Anon 1: I agree that the there is a bias toward the human rights of convicted criminals with little thought for their victims. Surely the most important mission of the system is to keep people safe from devious and unrepentant serious serial sex offenders at all times. More of which in another post.
Anon 2: Thanks very much for your kind words. To be honest it's hard to keep going when I'm 'trying to get on with my life' and to forget about the past. The things that do keep me going are fighting injustices, especially to those who were/are denied justice. I'm so sorry if you're one of those women. The other thing is to try to help get some changes for the future.
Anon 3: I am in no doubt that there are many who would agree with you ....but that isn't how the law works.
Well, if it does go to Europe that's a trip to Brussels for us!
Seriously, though, if it does go further, to the very top, then it should put paid to this ridiculousness once and for all: I can't believe that we live in a world where the highest court available would award someone like him a pension.
Thanks Eryl. I do hope that our efforts will sort this out for the future, as you say, 'once and for all.' I think it might be tickets to Strasburg for the ECHR? Let's get this first hurdle out of the way before we get too far ahead of ourselves! It's going to be very interesting to hear the decision. Jane xxx
Post a Comment