Brianna Ghey

It was indeed a frenzied attack. More than twenty stab wounds apparently. Poor, trusting Brianna. Lonely and fell gratefully for a supposed friendship while plots were already being made against her. Tragic.

The sister of Eddie Ratcliffe is younger so below 15

Don’t you think that everyone in the area knew who the killers were anyway Annie?

I certainly think so GSM , the country is a much wilder field is it not

What difference does it make if someone living a long way away knows their names? None at all.

The families should never move from their area

I saw Brianna’s mum on Iplayer and listened to the podcast on the BBC. She was very impressive and said that all the families had lost a child through this, but she also said that they showed no remorse. I still think they should be named and not hidden given the gravity of their crime. The argument that people around the country have no interest in their names is irrelevant as that applies across the board (if it applies at all). They have rightly been named and shamed. It’s part of the punishment. We need to be protected from dangerous people of whatever age.

You are protected ,

I remember the outcry when Mary Bell's identity was discovered; she had a small child, and local mothers were understandably alarmed as they had allowed their children to visit her home without realising who she was. Understandable.

There was a complete ban for life to protect Mary Bell

No eazybee not understandable.

Mary Bell committed her crimes as a 10 year old. The event that led to her anonymity being broken occurred 30 years later. 30 years of living a blameless life as a normal person in the community. She had married (I think) and had her child and was bringing her up.

Why on earth should the actions of an abused child of 10 make her a danger in her 30s? I wouldn't have thought twice about letting my daughter or grandaughter visit her house if her daughter and mine were friends.

I don’t have a problem with them being named. What they did and what they had the potential to do was truly horrific and almost beyond belief. James Bulger’s killers and Mary Bell were far younger than this when they were named. The difference here is that these two young killers came from seemingly “respectable” backgrounds, while the other children who killed had backgrounds from the very margins of society. This makes it even more unusual but it is no reason for them not to be named. This type of behaviour, thankfully, is extremely rare but it shows that evil can and does lurk anywhere.

Difference between justice and revenge

Germanshepherdsmum

What difference does it make if someone living a long way away knows their names? None at all.

That's my point, really.

As I say, I'm in no way trying to lessen the load for the murderers, and tbh I'm not sure that naming them will make things much worse for them. They are children, and will be adults if they are ever released, by which time they will look different and be different people. Without government help they might be able to change their names and start again, unless a 'well-meaning' media outlet decides to expose them, and if the authorities decide that this is too big a risk they can block any reporting on their release and identity. In 20 years or so (and of course that is just when they can apply for parole, not necessarily when they will get it) the case will no longer be in the public consciousness anyway. Knowing their names will make no difference. It is their families who will suffer more than already, and they haven't done anything to deserve it, so what's the point? People wanting to ask questions about why it happened can still refer to child A and B, or whatever.

Brianna's mum was so dignified talking to Laura Kuenssberg this morning, and she was able to see that they would be suffering too. I was very impressed by her emotional maturity, and am far from sure that I would be able to feel the same, but I would like to think that even in those unthinkable circumstances I would realise that too.

I'm sure that locally the names are not news, though. I live in a small town, and if something far less momentous happens everyone is talking about it. Even if you don't know the people involved it will be explained that they are the cousin of the woman who lived in the corner house with the large dogs, or the neighbour of the hairdresser's cousin's wife. News travels fast.

They are children, and will be adults if they are ever released, by which time they will look different and be different people

Be released, be given a new identity, become part of society, mix with people and could carry on offending, as Jon Venables did.

Who can forget the adults trying to storm the van taking two
10 year old boys to court

Yes, but John Venables was monitored as planned and has been back in prison for some years. He was recently refused parole.

Isn't that what is meant to happen when released from a sentence?

I might had that Robert Thompson seems to have led a blameless life since release, as has Mary Bell.

M0nica

Yes, but John Venables was monitored as planned and has been back in prison for some years. He was recently refused parole.

Isn't that what is meant to happen when released from a sentence?

But those meeting him upon his release, women he formed relationships with, did not know who he was.
He was still potentially a danger to children as has been proved by his subsequent crimes. Those women might have had children themselves.

M0nica

I might had that Robert Thompson seems to have led a blameless life since release, as has Mary Bell.

So would you have been happy for your daughter or granddaughter to have met and married him?

So everyone found guilty must be locked up for life?

Anniebach

Difference between justice and revenge

This worries me Anniebach and why I feel uncomfortable with naming these two adolescents.

Worries me too Farzanah seems some want to restore the death penalty

Callistemon21

^They are children, and will be adults if they are ever released, by which time they will look different and be different people^

Be released, be given a new identity, become part of society, mix with people and could carry on offending, as Jon Venables did.

Not necessarily. I don't think that happens often, as it is expensive. I meant more that they would look different and wouldn't get past the parole panel unless they behaved differently.

I think that anyone released from a life sentence will be recalled if they ever reoffend (as was Venables). I also believe that they will be supervised. I don't know what the rules are as regarding other relationships and disclosing their past - can anyone confirm?

Do you think so Anniebach? I haven’t seen that.
What do you think should be the punishment for depriving someone of the chance to live their life freely, especially when you add in the deliberate planning and enjoyment of these two, or by Brady and Hindley?
Seems to me that depriving the culprits of the chance to live their lives freely is an appropriate punishment.
I wouldn’t like to be on the parole board that releases them. It might have been my grandchildren who were on their list, or who met up and married them on their release. Would you trust them with your great grandchildren?