Ian Brady Addresses Mental Health Tribunal

Ian Brady has told a mental health tribunal that he used "method acting" in order to be classified as insane.

The Moors Murderer was speaking publicly for the first time in 47 years.

The 75-year-old argues he put on the act so he could be transferred from prison to Ashworth, a high security hospital. However, he is now fighting to be found sane so he can return to prison.

He claimed his reasons for wanting to return to prison are because "the regime [at Ashworth] has changed to a penal warehouse".

It has previously been suggested that Brady, who has fought for the right to kill himself, might try to starve himself to death if he is granted a move. The accused has reportedly been on hunger strike since 1999, but doctors at the hospital can force-feed Brady through a tube in his nose under mental health law.

At the tribunal on Monday, however, it was revealed that Brady "makes himself toast every morning" and often takes the food made available to him. When his lawyer asked him about whether he wants to kill himself if he is declared fit to return to prison, Brady refused to answer.

Brady, along with his accomplice Myra Hindley, tortured and murdered five children aged from 10 to 17, burying some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District. He was found guilty of three of the murders and jailed for life. Both Brady and Hindley later confessed to killing the other two victims. Hindley died in prison in 2002.

During Tuesday's session, Eleanor Grey QC, counsel for Ashworth, asked Brady if he was mentally ill when he was transferred to Ashworth.

He said: "Have you heard of Stanislavski?

"If you knew who Stanislavski is... have you heard of method acting? Does that make it clear to you?"

He also added: "I am not psychotic."

Brady's legal team has admitted their client does have a severe personality disorder but is not mentally ill, and could therefore, be treated in prison rather than hospital. Staff at Ashworth have refuted this, arguing that he remains a paranoid schizophrenic who needs to stay at his current facility.

Proceedings of the tribunal are being relayed to the press and public on TV screens at Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

The judgement of the panel will be released at a later date.

(JP)