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UK: Holloway stroke woman held in chains

01 September 1998

A 49-year old woman prisoner, with multiple sclerosis, was shackled while in hospital after having a stroke. Linda Wright, who is serving a 12-year sentence in Holloway prison for drug smuggling, was taken to Whittington hospital where she was held in metre long shackles which were attached to her paralysed arm. The stroke had left her paralysed down one side of her body and her multiple sclerosis also made it difficult for her to move. Her solicitor, Simon Creighton, has claimed that her treatment amounted to assault and negligence: "It would be impossible to describe Linda as likely to escape," he added. Nonetheless, a Prison Service spokesman claimed that "there were good reasons to restrain her". Paul Cavadino of the National Association or the Care and Resettlement of Offenders has demanded that: "The rules should be changed so escorted women are handcuffed only when there are strong grounds for regarding the individual as a serious escape risk." Ms Wright is threatening to sue the Prison Service and the prisons Minister, Joyce Quin, has said that she will launch an inquiry.

In another incident a 48-year old male prisoner, Del Shannon, who had both legs amputated because of illness, was forced to climb stairs at Elmley jail using his hands because the prison lacked disabled facilities for inmates. As a result Shannon is now danger of losing the use of his hands. He has begun a legal action against his treatment. In June the Prison Service paid £20,000 to a woman who was shackled while pregnant (see Statewatch Vol. 8, no. 3) and £25,000 compensation to a mother whose son was chained to his deathbed.

Times 8.7.98. Guardian 10.7.98; Independent 11.7.98;