Moors Murderer Ian Brady Taken To Hospital

Moors murderer Ian Brady has been taken to hospital after falling ill at the high-security psychiatric clinic where he has been held since 1985.

A spokesman for Ashworth Hospital said the killer had become "acutely physically unwell" on the ward and was sent to the general hospital for tests.

"As a precaution he will be kept in, at least for the next 24 hours," the spokesman said, adding that it was too soon to comment on his condition.

Jackie Powell, Ian Brady's mental health advocate of 15 years, told Sky News: "He collapsed at Ashworth with a seizure. He was rushed to hospital. He became very very unwell and they have been carrying out tests."

Brady, 74, is being kept in a single room and has two nurses from Ashworth Hospital with him at all times. Two other Ashworth staff members are on duty outside.

The murderer has been at the psychiatric hospital since he was declared criminally insane almost 30 years ago.

He has been fed through a tube in his nose since going on hunger strike in 1999.

His illness comes days before he is due to attend a public mental health review tribunal next week. Brady is set to argue for a transfer from Ashworth Hospital into prison.

At the moment, the authorities are under a duty to force-feed him because he is a psychiatric in-patient but, if he was moved to jail, he could starve himself to death.

The tribunal will only be the second time that such a hearing has been held in public and will be a rare chance to see Brady, if he is well enough to attend.

Brady's solicitor Richard Nicholas said the hearing was "obviously very important" and that they were still waiting for a decision. "We hope it's not going to be affected," he said.

According to reports, the murderer plans to call various witnesses and will give evidence in person.

Dr Chris Cowley, a cognitive psychologist who has written a book about Brady and met him in person, says the killer will revel in being back in the spotlight.

"I can't see anything that will come out of it other than for Brady. He'll drag it out as long as he can," the expert told the Daily Mail at the weekend.

"He'll have busloads of people. He'll have his lines all worked out and he'll relish it. This is his last 15 minutes on the stage."

Brady and his partner Myra Hindley killed five children in the 1960s before burying them on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester.

Keith Bennett, 12, was snatched on June 16, 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother. His body has never been found despite repeated pleas by his mother Winnie Johnson.

Pauline Reade, 16, disappeared on her way to a disco on July 12, 1963, and John Kilbride, 12, was snatched later the same year.

Lesley Ann Downey, 10, was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day, 1964, and Edward Evans, 17, was killed in October, 1965.

Brady was given life in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward.

Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John's murder.

In 1987, the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline. Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor in 1987 to find their bodies but only Pauline's was located.

Hindley died in jail in November 2002, aged 60.