How Shipman ended his life in deep despair behind bars

Serial killer's widow tells of a loving husband who contacted her every day from jail and worried about her financial hardship, but never discussed suicide, Andrew Norfolk writes:

Harold Shipman made friends with some of Britain's most dangerous prisoners, but kept a diary that revealed his deep despair at life behind bars, an inquest was told recently.

The dark moods of Britain's most prolific serial killer were outlined as his widow broke years of silence to reveal the first details of her relationship with the former family doctor.

Shipman, who is thought to have murdered 260 patients over 28 years, was found hanging in his cell at Wakefield Prison on January 13 last year, the day before his 58th birthday.

It emerged yesterday that Shipman, in a direct breach of prison rules, had regularly been giving medical advice to fellow inmates during the months leading up to his death. He exercised with them in the gym, played Scrabble with them, formed a card school, enroled on an English literature course, studied the Peninsular Wars and told one inmate that he was writing a book about Napoleon.

The maximum-security prisoners who gave evidence on the opening day of Shipman's inquest at Leeds Crown Court said that they had no idea that he was about to end his life. He used a ligature, made from a torn-up sheet.

Their ignorance was shared by Primrose Shipman, 55, who insisted that her husband had given her no indication that he was planning to commit suicide.

It was only after his death, the inquest jury was told, that she read his diary and learnt, from reports compiled by the Prison Service, that Shipman had been viewed as a long-term suicide risk.

The likelihood of a suicide attempt had been considered by the prison authorities to be at its highest during "the build-up to birthdays," and other significant anniversaries.

Mrs. Shipman, grey-haired and heavily built, with both ankles bandaged and wearing a dark-blue jacket and blue skirt, walked slowly to the stand when her name was called.

She stood for an hour - she was too small to reach the microphone when she was seated - and gave her evidence in a quiet but controlled voice.

At first she was monosyllabic, content to reply "yes" or "no" to a series of questions as David Hinchliff, the West Yorkshire Coroner, took her through the contents of her witness statement.

The voice became sharper, and her replies more eloquent, whenever she was asked a question that implied any criticism of the mass murderer.

For the 32 years of their marriage before Shipman's arrest in 1998, the couple had enjoyed, she agreed, "a normal, happy life."

Despite his conviction in 2000 for 15 murders, she confirmed that the relationship had remained "extremely strong" and that Shipman had been "deeply caring" towards her.

Whether through prison visits, telephone calls or letters, Mrs. Shipman agreed that during the seven years between his arrest and his death, "not a day went by" when she was not in some form of contact with her husband.

This included a telephone call on the eve of Shipman's death and a letter that he wrote to her on the same day. Neither offered any clue that he was about to kill himself, Mrs. Shipman said.

Nevertheless she agreed with James Sturman, QC, her barrister, that the contents of his diary revealed "a man in deep despair at being separated from his family."

She also confirmed that the couple had been fully aware that although her husband had been stripped of his NHS pension, she would receive a widow's pension in the event of his death.

The increasing financial hardship she had suffered since Shipman's arrest and conviction had preyed on her husband's mind and worried him considerably, she agreed.

Mrs. Shipman insisted, however, that she had been unaware that her pension rights would be reduced if Shipman lives beyond the age of 60.

She also questioned the accuracy of a 2000 prison service report, which claimed that Shipman had told a probation officer that he had discussed his intention to commit suicide with his wife.

Not only has the conversation between husband and wife never taken place, she said, but: "I'm not sure the conversation with the probation officer took place." Mrs. Shipman said: "He didn't talk to the probation service or anyone connected with the probation service. He thought it was a waste of time."

Did Shipman become fed up with people trying to get inside his head, she was asked. "Oh yes," she replied.

Shipman's widow was also scathing about the way that Wakefield prison was run, comparing it unfavourably with Durham's Frankland, Prison, where her husband had been held until June 2003.

At Wakefield, she said, the prison officers were more aggressive. Those at Frankland had been friendlier and more approachable.

At Frankland, they liked to keep the prisoners occupied, finding them work and education, but at Wakefield "they didn't seem to mind whether they kept them locked up all day or not."

Mrs. Shipman learnt of her husband's death in a telephone call from her son, Sam, who had heard the news on the radio. She said that she was surprised that no one from Wakefield Prison had thought to get in touch with her.

In a line from Shipman's diary, the killer had written: "Telephone tapped, letters read. Probably get away with (writing) this as the POs (prison officers) are so lazy."

The hearing was told that as a Category-A prisoner, Shipman should have been checked every hour throughout the night.

However, Gary Howat, a former prisoner who had become friends with Shipman after lending him his Scrabble board, said that this had not been the case.

"They (Category As) should have been checked (every hour), but they weren't before Harold Shipman's death. They were after," he said.

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Doctor disciplined after queries over 270 deaths

From David Sharrock in Madrid

More than 270 patients died from the alleged misuse of sedatives at a Madrid hospital over two years, it was reported recently prompting calls for a judicial inquiry.

The patients died after being admitted to the accident and emergency department of the Severo Ochoa hospital in Leganes, a Madrid suburb. Most died within 24 hours of being, admitted to A&E after being treated with the sedatives morphine, midazolam and transxilium.

Dr. Luis Montes, 56, has been suspended as head of the department, where the death rate was three times higher than in similar clinics in Madrid, according to El Mundo, a daily newspaper. The hospital's own investigations found that in at least 42 cases the amount of sedative administered was either not indicated, was excessive, or doubtful, according to El Mundo. Two senior medical officers have also been suspended.

Despite the public disquiet over events at the hospital, colleagues of Dr. Montes have called for his reinstatement. Dr. Montes, who was known by hospital staff as "Shining Path" after the Peruvian Maoist guerrilla movement, has denied that he acted improperly.

The hospital had drawn up its own protocol in the case of terminally ill patients, which held that sedatives could be administered if sufferers were expected to live for only six more months or less.

But last week the daughter of a man who went in for a routine examination for respiratory difficulty and died after being sedated, began legal proceedings, according to El Mundo, which has because of what it called grave irregularities, demanded an urgent judicial inquiry into the affair.

"What's in question is the defence of the patient's rights and in the ultimate instance, human life itself," the newspaper said in an editorial.

"No doctor can take upon himself the right to decide between life and death and even less without the consent of the family of the patient."

There had been no fatalities from misuse of sedatives since the suspension of Dr. Montes, the newspaper said.

(Courtesy: The Times, London)

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Remembering Monica

by Malini Govinnage

The first death anniversary of the poetess Monica Ruwanpathirana fell on July 10. She was unarguably the poetess of our times. And, she was poetess of the masses, especially the working woman in the country.

Looking back at Monica's writings during the last five years of her life, one could sense a foreboding of her untimely death.

Her long poem, published in 1999, 'Asan Pattini Devatavi' itself is a statement of the irony of fate she was to face later in her life. In this poem, a woman pleads Goddess Pattini for longevity in order that she contribute her due services to the society at large in the gigantic task of its transformation.

The translation of the last stanzas of 'Asan Pattini Devatavi' goes thus,

Dear poet friend on reading your poems long ago someone wrote the following:

"Joy mixed with pain

Is life on earth

Hence fortunate it is to be a poet"

Thousands of women every where

Bring such joy to this world

when will they win the favours of the Muse

My poet friend

Is not here today

To listen to my poem

I must search among the poets in this land,

So, I ask you with respect,

Please make my life long.

(p. 143)

Monica was a literary critic who could not be bought over for parochial whims and fancies of seasonal politics. She was a teacher of poetry and literary criticism who taught in the Universities as well as in classrooms with thatched roofs in remote villages, or sometimes in a temple hall or under a giant tree in a dry zone village. Her pupils were often Ordinary Level or Advanced Level students in these village schools, who were thirsty for reading and understanding good works of literature.

She conducted these impromptu classes as response to humble requests by these rural youngsters who came across during her field visits, as a Rural Development officer. "Those were the most enjoyable and memorable moments in my life", she used to reminisce later. During the last days of her life, when her creative faculties were vibrant and her maligning cancer inside her was slowly taking the toll of her life, she brought out her last poetic work 'Hippocrates saha Roginiya', which is like a diagnosis report of the ills of today's society.

The loss created by her death in the literary field to which she contributed for more than three decades is irreparable. Yet, was she given due recognition? For the most part of her life she remained an unsung heroine. Even at death, she was given she same ungrateful treatment. Is it not time the authorities concerned, more specifically; Ministry of Cultural Affairs to propose conferring a posthumous honourary award for the services she has rendered towards modern Sri Lankan poetry!

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A unique teacher, a guiding light to women of Sri Lanka

A tribute to Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne on the conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Government of Japan

It is indeed a great moment of joy especially to the students of Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne to learn of her life time achievement, where she was conferred with The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Government of Japan in recognizing her outstanding work in cultivating relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.

The honour recognizes her significant contribution in promoting friendly and numerous ties between Japan and Sri Lanka. Her untiring efforts made the countries work together in achieving much desired understanding in the free world. We were a lucky bunch, to be in one of the first batches of the then newly introduced Japanese Studies programme at the University of Colombo, which she pioneered and took a great interest. Prof. Karunaratne personally persuaded many attempts to make aware of varying aspects of the Japanese culture and literature to Sri Lanka and vice versa.

In every little attempt she made, she made us realize the importance of devotion and concentration that one should practice irrespective of the work being too small or too big, and this made every bit of her work more interesting and meaningful to us.

She had an inborn habit to appreciate - her students, subordinates, friends and associates, which made her stand out from the rest. This made her a teacher par excellence. She made her life an example to her students. she guided them and persuaded them to do the best and was constantly guiding and monitoring their activities.

Above all, she is a true Sri Lankan mother whom we looked up to and will continue to as a role model.

Dear teacher, this piece will not by any means justify your untiring contributions to the academia and social well-being of Sri Lankan women, or your invaluable contributions to Japan-Sri Lanka ties, but only a brief tribute to say that we are indeed proud of you.

Manutissera Gunasekara, Ex-Student-MAJS- University of Colombo

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13th Kala Pola to be held on July 17 at Slave Island Railway Station

The Kala Pola (Open Air Art Fair) which is rapidly becoming the most popular and sought-after annual artistic event is to be held on Sunday, July 17 for the 13th consecutive year at the platforms of the Slave Island Railway Station, the adjoining pavements and car park opposite Elephant House.

"We are aware of the hidden talent of the thousands of artists through Kala Pola. The artists themselves come to know about each other when participating in an event like this which is very supportive to their career," said Chairman, George Keyt Foundation Cedric de Silva at a media briefing in Colombo recently.

Director John Keells Holdings Sumithra Gunasekera explaining the reasons for selecting the Slave Island Railway Station as the venue said unlike the other Railway Stations in Sri Lanka, the Slave Island Railway Station is reasonably clean and it is maintained by John Keells Holdings as a social welfare activity.

He said Kala Pola is not going to be just a display of 'Art works'. This year's Kala Pola will feature over 300 stalls along the railway platform and its environs. The event will include musical entertainment for visitors, including sitar, jazz band, trumpet, flute, surpina, traditional drums and street singers. Visitors could also treat themselves to Keells food items traditional sweet-meats and fruits. Peanut and manioc sellers will hawk their offerings while astrologers, palm readers, stilt walkers and a live elephant will entertain the visitors. In short, it will be a street carnival.

The Kala Pola is a 'platform' to sell one's works of art. It also provides an open-air 'gallery', a kind of trade fair, where hundreds of talented persons from around the island get to display their work - an opportunity they would not be able to afford with their own resources. most importantly, this is an opportunity for budding artists to display their talent and launch their careers.

De Silva said the quality of the arts are of high standard with the number of artists participating at the Kala Pola ever increasing. In 2004, the number of artists which attended the event was 353, with sales of 4.5 million generating. So the Kala Pola is an ideal venue to discover unknown arts from unknown artists.

He thanked the John Keells Group for their support in promoting the arts every year through the Kala Pola.

Entrance to the Kala Pola is free of charge and there will be no fees or any percentage of the profits levied from the artists.

- Anjalie Garnier

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Valauwwa that provides a roof to the orphans

The still waters that caressed the golden beaches under normal circumstances suddenly turned rough and violent on the 'Unduwap' fullmoon day of the last year and devastated enormously the life and property of the coastal belts of Indian ocean including a part of Sri Lanka. That was the tragedy of the tsunami cataclysm that submerged the whole of the Southern capital of Galle, including Boossa where people run helter skelter to save their dear life. 'Jayasena Valauwwa' situated on the hillock of Jayasena Mawatha, Boossa Town was one of the few places where the awe struck victims found refuge on that fateful moment.

The Jayasena Waluwwa, occupied a land of nearly six and half acres in extent owned by Surgeon Asoka Jayasena, a renowned ENT specialist, Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte. This benevolent medical practitioner along with his wife Ayeshani Jayasena, the Magistrate and Additional District Judge of Maligakanda Magistrate's Court, Colombo, not only received the poor displaced victims with utmost compassion but also gave them food and lodging. They went to the extent of hosting them indefinitely.

"Both of us decided to draw up a long lasting programme for the welfare of the children orphaned by the tsunami. I decided to donate my residence for the benefit of these children", said the ENT Surgeon.

He opened up a pre-school as the first stage of his plan. The sitting room of his residence was converted to a pre-school to introduce alphabet to the upcoming generation. There are 50 per-school children at the moment. There are more than 100 applicants for the ensuing, year, said Dr. Asoka Jayasena.

The second stage of his programme included computer education. He started an English class with 70 students who learn English without paying a cent. They include not only tsunami victims but also the poor youth of the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, Professor Harendra Silva launched a National Child care programme here. Dr. Jayasena also developed a desire to make use of his professional experience to help the tsunami victims. He opened up a free health clinic at his residence. Right at this moment, a German Physician Dr. Sebestian Paulus who arrived in the island to provide relief to tsunami victims, came forward to help Dr. Jayasena. Dr. Sebestian offered his free service to treat the patients.

Supply of drinking water was a problem confronting Dr. Jayasena. UNICEF took over the sponsorship to supply drinking water. The project cost Rs. 2 million. It provides water not only to the tsunami victims but also to the needy in the neighbourhood.The library that was opened recently received books from another benefactor Neeliya Karunratne. Dr. Jayasena selected a staff of 30 members from among the refugees to attend to the needs of their fellowmen. A web site was recently opened to facilitate affairs at this place. Its number is www.pinfoundation.org.

Jayasena Walauwwa of Jayasena Mawatha, Boossa is today a Child and Youth Development Centre for the Tsunami victims. Dr. Jayasena's relentless efforts to improve this centre is praiseworthy, indeed.