78yr old woman is in prison through no fault of hers

She’s not a 77 year old teacher though, she’s a 77 year old retired teacher, surely. I know, being pedantic, but I don’t see any 77 year olds teaching in schools near me. Yes, she should have known better, but that applies to anyone setting out to deliberately cause disruption, not just to people who worked in a profession.

With regard to her sentence, she knew she was breaking the law, causing huge inconvenience to people and possibly putting lives at risk as a result of her actions. She was handed a sentence and should serve it in my opinion.

Do none of you think about your grandchildren and climate change.. this woman is being supported by the Quakers because they think what she did was morally correct..

How is it ‘no fault of hers’ when she’s committed some offence that led to this situation?

Wyllow, it's surely easy to understand why "why posters think it OK she should stay on in prison when she has a right to have concluded her sentence as others have."

The demographic that attracts people to Gransnet is predominantly in line with the right wing establishment.

Damask, generally I'd agree with you on both your points.
However, prisons are too harsh to cope with elderly disabilities.No elderly person with the disabilities of age should go to prisons such as prisons actually are. Prison reform is urgently needed.

Also, the woman was imprisoned solely because the stop oil campaign is anti-establishment. This case was terrorism on the part of the establishment.

I've looked up the "refused the tag" controversy (at length) and it is just that. It seems to be that she refused an ankle tag because of the state of her legs/ankles and clearly asked for a wrist one.
I can understand the frustration with the crime here but obviously many prisoners released early also committed crimes we would deplore, I can't quite understand why posters think it OK she should stay on in prison when she has a right to have concluded her sentence as others have.

More publicity for Just Stop Oil.

I must admit I’m almost envious - heating, hot water, three meals a day cooked for you!

I admire Quakers in general but I won’t follow them to protest about this woman’s fate. She did the crime and she’s doing the time. Surely an intelligent woman like her knew that if she refused the tag she would go to prison. Her age is irrelevant.

Caleo

The protest and moral support for this elderly prisoner is being led by Quakers .

Does this fact alone not tell you to support her!

You are punitive should be ashamed of yourselves.

Why should that make any difference whatsoever? I don't care whether it's the Quakers supporting her or Mickey Mouse!

Would you all feel so strongly if this were a very slim male being released on licence but having the same circumstances as this female?
She committed a crime and was sentenced and she should see that sentence

She missed Christmas.

Other people missed their medical appointments due to her protest.

Even babies have tags to fit them.

Caleo

The protest and moral support for this elderly prisoner is being led by Quakers .

Does this fact alone not tell you to support her!

You are punitive should be ashamed of yourselves.

Not sure why I should support this woman because she has Quakers on side.

All I'm concerned with is she broke the law and has to pay the price. I'm pleased about that. I wouldn't care if she wag 92 either. Patronising to suggest she's too old to be in prison.

Also, as has been mentioned above, I find it hard to believe that the size of the tag was an issue.

Why would the Quakers make any difference at all as to whether people should support her?

There is no "should" about it.

The protest and moral support for this elderly prisoner is being led by Quakers .

Does this fact alone not tell you to support her!

You are punitive should be ashamed of yourselves.

According to some sources she's alleged to have refused the tag. Her family of course say that's not true.

I'm inclined to believe she refused. Others will believe her. Which is fine.

However I don't care that she missed Christmas. These protests are so infuriating. She broke the law. That's the point. No sympathy whatsoever.

Also where do these protesters go in winter? Is it a bit chilly for them? No doubt say at home with their gas central heating on.

To my cynical eyes, I think they are trotting out any and everything to stop her from going back to prison.
She is claiming it is sexism, then her age and intelligence has been bought up...

In the article in the O/P it was the probation service who came to her house and could not find a tag to fit and they reported it.
There are alternatives. Given that she is eligible, whats the point in spending £12.000 more keeping her in prison? Who gains?

What has her age got to do with it. Would there have been the same fuss made if she had been 18, 38 or 58?

It is classic agism. She is 78, she must be a frail little old lady who needs to be treated with special care because she may be a bit doddery, physically or mentally.

Well, that stereotype is an insult to most 78 year olds and, as far as i m concerned she was fit aand healthy enough to commit the crime, she should not be treated any differently to any other offender in her circumstances.

I can't imagine they have no tags that fit.
I've known several young, slim "girls" have them.

As a 77 year old teacher she should know better and I have zero sympathy. I have no problem with peaceful protest but not where people are prevented from getting to work and ambulances cannot pass; these are stupid people who think it's ok to throw paint on works of art and generally disrupt the lives of the rest of us let alone the cost to the taxpayer to police these demonstrations. She should serve her time in jail and while there ponder the futility of her cause.

There has in the past been criticism of tags being fitted to children so I think it highly unlikely that there is not a wrist or ankle tag which would fit this woman. It was claimed that she refused to wear one. I think that’s the more credible version.

I don't agree with what she did in any way whatsoever but I do think she is entitled to be treated the same as other offenders who have been released under the early release scheme. Unless she is ill, her age isnt relevant, its a straightforward matter of equality under the law.

She was fit enough to block the M25 so is fit enough to finish her sentence, if she were 28 this would not get a mention.

As Barleyfields said - So she has to serve the term she was sentenced to rather than being released early on licence. She was imprisoned because she committed a criminal offence so the title is rather misleading.

The point of disruptive protest is that you are so concerned to make your point, you do it despite the fact you know you are breaking the law and you are prepared to face the punishment. That is what the law is for.