The system and 'diminished responsibility'

And so - as often happens in such horrific cases that are robbed of sense, logic or reason - his lawyers are going to put the case for diminished responsibility, that he's not, and never has been, mentally balanced.

This doesn't sit comfortably with me. I think someone - or something -
should be held responsible for what's happened to the unfortunate victims such as, perhaps, the inadequate, insufficient checks and balances. Who's responsible for that?

Apparenly, Fritzl was convicted of rape in 1967 and was sentenced to a term in prison. However, under Austrian law, unless the crime carries a life sentence, a conviction must be removed after no more than 15 years.

And so Fritzl was officially allowed to become responsible for the care of three of the seven children he fathered with Elisabeth, adopting one child and fostering two more.

It's all to do with lack of checks - and I think social services and the system as a whole should be accountable.

As for his madness, I don't know.

But the way he carried out his monstrous act, cleverly hiding the facts from all concerned and manipulating the system and the authorities, seems to suggest someone far from mentally disturbed.

This is the working of a very astute, very intelligent man.

For 24 years he, alone - apparently - made a complete fool of the system.

Forgive me, but it's not he who needs to have his head checked - but the authorities and the system which our great and the good have put into place.

Even in our own country, we, like Elizabeth and her children, are the victims of the system that enables serious foreign criminals - terrorists and murders - to work in our airports without having proper checks.

So although a retired woman who wants to work as a lolly-pop lady for a near-by school will, by law, have to go through a rigorous CRB check, foreigners can work close to international aeroplanes parked at airside without any one making a slightest enquiry to authenticate their backgrounds.

And they wonder why terrorists are having a field-day.

I ask you, who's mad - monsters like Fritzl and international terrorists who can mastermind mass destruction or, us for allowing our leaders to display such startling indifference and neglect for our safety?