Voting rights for prisoners

Nov 11 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE grandmother of a child sex attack victim has brought the issue of rights for prisoners sharply into context.

Paul Shaw carried out the assaults after befriending the victim’s mother and has now been jailed indefinitely.

His victim’s grandmother spoke out after it was revealed that prisoners are likely to be given the right to vote.

She has revealed how Shaw’s actions completely violated her granddaughter’s rights and left a family in torment.

And that is at the nub of this highly contentious issue. Shaw’s rights are protected. The UK Government looks set to be forced to accept a European Court of Human Rights ruling that the current law denying prisoners the right to vote is illegal.

Which is worst, giving them that right or facing the grim prospect of having to pay them compensation?