THE JUDGE who ruled that a ban on Moonies leader the Rev Sun Myung Moon was unlawful has been bitterly attacked by a group of Bolton families and their MP.

Yesterday Mr Justice Sedley said Home Secretary Michael Howard's decision to bar The Rev Moon from entering Britain was wrong.

But, he did not force Mr Howard to lift it.

Today, Junior Health Minister and Bolton West MP Tom Sackville - who has been contacted by several Bolton families affected by the cult - has accused the Judge of interfering when he should not.

He said: "I have been contacted by several families in Bolton over the years and in the last 24 hours about this. They are very concerned that this apparently pro-cult judge is interfering in the perfectly sensible decision of the Home Secretary."

Mr Sackville said the Rev Moon is "a particularly evil man" who has brought misery to thousands of families and the Home Secretary is quite right to ban him.

"I do not know why this Judge has taken this decision, perhaps he is seeking publicity. He is wrong.

"I have contacted Mr Howard and urged him to appeal against this decision."

Home Secretary Michael Howard today defended his decision to bar Moon from entering Britain and warned that the ban would not be lifted.

The judge ruled yesterday that Mr Howard acted unfairly because he had not given Sun Myung Moon, the chance of a fair hearing.

But today Mr Howard warned of the misery caused to families when people joined the Moonies and said he had no intention of lifting the ban. The Moonies have been accused of breaking up families.

Under the ruling he is now obliged to look at any representations made by Mr Moon against ban.

After the court ruling Moonie spokesmen were optimistic that their leader would make his planned three-day visit this weekend and give a speech to 1,200 followers in London.

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