Author defends payout.THE writer of the book has defended her decision to pay Mary Bell
Mary Flora Bell (born on May 26 1957 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England) was convicted in December 1968 of the murders of two boys, Martin Brown (four years old) and Brian Howe a huge fee. Award-winning journalist Gitta Sereny Gitta Sereny (born March 13 1921) is a Hungarian-born British biographer, historian and journalist whose writing focuses mainly on the Holocaust and abused children. She is a stepdaughter of the economist Ludwig von Mises. said her work can "only be in the public interest". Premier Tony Blair Noun 1. Tony Blair - British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Blair yesterday ordered an urgent probe into claims that Bell is to get pounds 50,000. He signalled his disgust at the "heinous hei·nous adj. Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable: a heinous crime. [Middle English, from Old French haineus, from haine, hatred, from deal" and told Home Secretary Jack Straw to investigate. But Ms Sereny claims that Cries Unheard is a serious analysis of what turns a child into a killer. She said: "The purpose of the book is extremely serious. "There is nothing sensationalist sen·sa·tion·al·ism n. 1. a. The use of sensational matter or methods, especially in writing, journalism, or politics. b. Sensational subject matter. c. Interest in or the effect of such subject matter. about it. It is an attempt to find out why this woman, as a child, committed two terrible acts and what her life has been like. "There are no excuses for what she did and she herself admits that, but it is an explanation we have never had before. "I hope it will encourage people to demand changes in the way some people are cared for." Ms Sereny said of the reported pounds 50,000: "The figure has been plucked from the air. Yes she did receive some money from me. "However it would have been an impossible project without her collaboration." Whitehall experts will now see if they can stop Bell profiting. A Downing Street Downing Street, Westminster, London, England. On the street are the British Foreign Office and, at No. 10, the residence of the first lord of the Treasury, who is usually (although not necessarily) the prime minister of Great Britain. spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has expressed his concern for the families." Mr Straw wants to find out if Bell breached a ban on revealing her new identity. A Home Office source said: "Jack thinks the book is distasteful." |
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