Mon, 29 Jun 2015
Michael Duck QC, member of No5 Chambers Crime Group, has recently defended Alan Hagan, 48, Liverpool, who denied misconduct in a public office following his dealings with News of the World Reporter Lucy Panton, whilst he was working at Ashworth Hospital, where Ian Brady, who was convicted of murdering 5 children in 1966, has been for 30 years.
The court heard that Hagan was paid £1,000 for a story in 2008, headlined “Suicide Brady hid pills in his sock”. He also smuggled a camera in and took photographs of Brady, however the pictures were not good enough quality and were never published.
Michael Duck QC said Hagan was a man of "positive good character" who had not instigated the plan to get pictures of Brady or actively sought payment.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC rejected a call for a suspended sentence. Hagan has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Please click here to read articles by BBC News and the Liverpool Echo.
Please click here to view Michael Duck QC’s profile.
