Moors killer Ian Brady ‘on respirator’ in prison hospital

He is due to attend a mental health tribunal on Monday regarding his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die.

But his appearance at that hearing is now in doubt after he was taken ill at the high-security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside where he has spent the last 25 years.

A hospital spokesman said today: “Ian Brady, a patient at Ashworth Hospital, has been admitted to a general hospital after becoming acutely physically unwell on the ward.

“He is undergoing a series of tests and, as a precaution, he will be kept in.

“Ian Brady, 74, is in a single room and will be accompanied in that room at all times by two nurses from Ashworth Hospital. Two other members of Ashworth Hospital staff will also be on duty outside his room throughout his stay in the general hospital.

“It is too soon to provide a comment about his condition.”

Brady has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.

His solicitor, Richard Nicholas, confirmed his client was in hospital but said he could not comment any further on what happened.

He said the tribunal “was obviously very important”, adding: “We are waiting for a decision. We hope it’s not going to be affected.”

It is understood Brady was taken to Fazakerley Hospital in Aintree shortly after 2pm yesterday.

He arrived at a rear entrance surrounded by guards and with a blanket over his head, a witness said.

Visitors and other patients in the hospital were held in corridors while he passed through to his ward.

There is now a massive security presence at the hospital.

It is also understood the murderer is on a respirator for breathing problems.

Jackie Powell, who has been working with Brady for 15 years as his mental health advocate, said: “Basically, he collapsed yesterday and was taken straight to Fazakerly Hospital where he is presently undergoing tests. He is quite unwell.

“I am waiting for an update from the physicians at Fazakerly as we speak.”

She said she could not comment further at this stage.

Yesterday, the solicitor acting on behalf of the mother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett said she would not be attending the mental health tribunal as it would be “too traumatic” for her.

Last December, Winnie Johnson, 78, from Longsight, Manchester, said she hoped to come “face to face” with her son’s killer after a judge ruled Brady’s tribunal would be held in public.

But her solicitor, John Ainley, senior partner at North Ainley Halliwell, said Mrs Johnson was currently in hospital and not well enough to attend.

He added: “In any event, it would be too traumatic for her to have any involvement in a hearing that deals with Ian Brady.

“Winnie has made it perfectly clear over the years that she considers Ian Brady should remain in a mental hospital for the remainder of his natural life and not be transferred to a prison either in England or Scotland.”

Mr Ainley said his client still wanted answers from Brady.

“She has only one question to ask Ian Brady,” he said. “That is ‘Where is my son Keith?’”

Brady and his partner, Myra Hindley, were responsible for the murders of five youngsters in the 1960s.

They lured children and teenagers to their deaths, with the victims sexually tortured before being buried on Saddleworth Moor above Manchester.

Pauline Reade, 16, disappeared on her way to a disco on July 12 1963 and John Kilbride, 12, was snatched in November the same year.

Keith Bennett was abducted on June 16 1964 after he left home to visit his grandmother; Lesley Ann Downey, 10, was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day 1964; and Edward Evans, 17, was killed in October 1965.

Brady was given life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward.

Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John’s murder, and also jailed for life.

In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.

Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor in 1987 to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline’s body was found.

Hindley died in jail in November 2002, aged 60.

Brady, who was born in Glasgow, wants to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die.

The mental health hearing, due to be held on July 9, could be a rare chance to see the Moors Murderer in public.

It is only the second time that such a hearing has been held in public.

The tribunal is due to take place at the hospital and be relayed to the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester, where the public will be able to observe the proceedings, Judge Robert Atherton ruled.