Dear Editor,
I view the story of 51-year-old Delroy McIntosh, the mentally challenged man who was locked up for over 25 years without a trial for a ganja spliff, as both disturbing and disgraceful. This kind of incident serves to show up the shortcomings of the police, the justice system, the penal institutions and, of course, the victim's relatives.
Of course, our justice and penal system is 100 per cent responsible for the demise of this unfortunate man. They have been found wanting on many occasions and very little have been done to help rectify the problems that have surfaced. My bone of contention, however, is with the family and relatives of this unfortunate man.
What I find disturbing is to hear McIntosh's relatives threaten legal action against the State for his faulty 25-year incarceration while, by their own admission, they tried to find him on two occasions. Two times in over 25 years and now everybody wants to cash in on a lawsuit! Where were they all this time? I am not now blaming the relatives for this unfortunate incident, but had they applied enough pressure over the 25 years by getting his story out to the public, or getting a lawyer to look into the situation or appealing to one of the many lobby groups available, I'm sure their "beloved relative" would have got some attention.
The family abandoned this poor man to his fate because he was mentally challenged. Now that he is out without being charged, they are now queuing up and making statements about lawsuit. I find their behaviour purely opportunistic and self-serving.
Of course, the State should compensate this man for robbing him of 25 years of his life. The question is, who will really benefit if a payout is made?
Let the chips fall where they may, and the money-hungry relatives should be silenced.
Hotshots
myviews50@hotmail.com
Money-hungry and opportunistic
-->
I view the story of 51-year-old Delroy McIntosh, the mentally challenged man who was locked up for over 25 years without a trial for a ganja spliff, as both disturbing and disgraceful. This kind of incident serves to show up the shortcomings of the police, the justice system, the penal institutions and, of course, the victim's relatives.
Of course, our justice and penal system is 100 per cent responsible for the demise of this unfortunate man. They have been found wanting on many occasions and very little have been done to help rectify the problems that have surfaced. My bone of contention, however, is with the family and relatives of this unfortunate man.
What I find disturbing is to hear McIntosh's relatives threaten legal action against the State for his faulty 25-year incarceration while, by their own admission, they tried to find him on two occasions. Two times in over 25 years and now everybody wants to cash in on a lawsuit! Where were they all this time? I am not now blaming the relatives for this unfortunate incident, but had they applied enough pressure over the 25 years by getting his story out to the public, or getting a lawyer to look into the situation or appealing to one of the many lobby groups available, I'm sure their "beloved relative" would have got some attention.
The family abandoned this poor man to his fate because he was mentally challenged. Now that he is out without being charged, they are now queuing up and making statements about lawsuit. I find their behaviour purely opportunistic and self-serving.
Of course, the State should compensate this man for robbing him of 25 years of his life. The question is, who will really benefit if a payout is made?
Let the chips fall where they may, and the money-hungry relatives should be silenced.
Hotshots
myviews50@hotmail.com
Money-hungry and opportunistic
-->