HC Deb 27 June 1938 vol 337 cc1549-50W
Sir J. Mellor

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case at Chester assizes, on 23rd June, of Thomas Harold Thorn, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to murder; and whether he will make a statement as to the circumstances of Thorn's discharge from Broadmoor in 1935, after having been convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1921 and ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure

Mr. Lloyd

In May, 1921, Thom was found guilty but insane on a charge of murder and was ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure. He was accordingly removed to Broadmoor and was detained there till March, 1935. During those 14 years Thom showed no signs of insanity or of epilepsy. He was an extremely well behaved and tractable patient. He showed a capacity for regular and consistent work and took an active part in the social activities of the institution.

Accordingly in 1935 the question had to be considered whether the patient must be detained for life, or whether he could properly be released when he was still of an age when he could find profitable employment and when his relatives who were anxious for his discharge and in a position to look after him, were still of an age when they could take care of him. The question was carefully considered by the then Home Secretary in consultation with the medical advisers and it was decided that in view of the long period for which Thorn had shown no sign of insanity detention for life was unjustified and that, if Thorn was ever to be released, that was the proper time. He was released on the undertaking being given by his relatives to look after him and to make reports on his behaviour and this supervision was continued till about two years later Thorn married and left his relatives.

As the House will appreciate, the responsibility for deciding as to the release of a patient ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure often involves questions of great difficulty. There can seldom be absolute certainty that there will be no relapse, but on the other hand many patients make satisfactory recoveries and in such cases to keep them under detention for life would be unjustifiable. As is known to those hon. Members who from time to time make representations to the Home Office for the release of patients the greatest care is taken by the Home Office and the whole circumstances most anxiously weighed before the release is authorised of any patient who might be dangerous to the community.