WHAT a mixture of responses followed the news of Shipman's suicide!

There were those who said it was not soon enough (whose camp I favour), and others who felt that prison security had been lax, and that his life should have been preserved (a) so that in the course of time he would have explained why he killed as he did and (b) his continued prison sentence would have been proper punishment.

As to (a), I can see no reason why he would talk; indeed his silence would give him satisfaction. As for (b), I do not see a life-time sentence as being a suitable punishment when, today, prisoners in this category have TV and other comforts, such as regular meals, keep-fit programmes and leisure facilities.

As a Category A prisoner, a warder "looked in" on his cell every hour to ensure that he was alive and well! How many senior citizens can boast of this comfort? (A private warden/controlled apartment currently costs between £300-£500 per week, but monitoring is irregular!)

One might be angry if an investigation into his death is mounted, but perhaps it is the only way to prove that Shipman was not assisted in his farewell.

When Shipman was first seen to be the mass murderer he was, some claimed he felt he had assumed the "Power of God". Clearly, he was wrong and will now be witnessing the "rewards of Hell!"

Bob Pollock

Glendale Drive

Bolton

PRIVILEGES IN PRISON: Harold Shipman