Letter: Mary Bell

Thursday 30 April 1998 23:02 BST

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I WOULD not attempt to justify Mary Bell's crimes, but I do not believe that it is reasonable to put her fee on a par with a criminal who enjoys the proceeds of crime.

Mary was not paid for committing the crimes. She was paid for agreeing - long after she had completed her sentence - to discuss the circumstances in which the crimes were committed. That is quite different from allowing a drug dealer, a professional murderer, or a professional robber to enjoy the proceeds of his or her crime. I fail to see how Mary's fee could provide an incentive for other potential child murderers.

RITA HALE

London N1

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Letter: Mary Bell

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