Letter: A right to tell the hostages' story

Sir: The screening of Hostages this Wednesday by ITV, without the support of John McCarthy, Terry Waite, Brian Keenan and Terry Anderson fills me with sadness at the lack of respect for these men who have already been subjected to years of suffering which many of us cannot begin to appreciate. I for one will not be watching.

This 'drama documentary' promises to feed on the traumatic experience of the former hostages, their relatives and friends. To make it into a programme for public consumption without their approval is distasteful. John McCarthy, Terry Waite, Brian Keenan and Terry Anderson suffered one of the worst crimes against humanity - incarceration. We should not subject them to another - invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, and so on.

When, and if, they choose to tell their stories I will be the first to listen to their words, or to those of people chosen by them. This I will do with compassion and respect. In the meantime, I am prepared to wait. I urge others to do the same.

Yours sincerely,

JOAN RANSLEY

Ilkley, West Yorkshire

20 September