iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Margaret Moran 'Unfit To Stand Trial' Over Expenses Abuse

PA  |  Posted: 27/04/2012 11:20 Updated: 27/04/2012 11:20   PA

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

Former Labour MP Margaret Moran is not fit to stand trial on charges of fiddling her Parliamentary expenses, a court has been told.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph said Moran was suffering from a depressive illness and extreme anxiety and agitation, and the stress of the proceedings and allegations she was facing made it impossible for her to participate in court proceedings.

Dr Joseph added that Moran, 56, had tried to harm herself and there was a risk of suicide.

He added that she felt feelings of abandonment by the Labour Party and shame that her career was over.

Moran, of Ivy Road, St Denys, Southampton, Hampshire, did not attend the hearing before Mr Justice Saunders at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex today.

She was described as weeping inconsolably when she appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year on 15 charges of false accounting and six of using a false instrument relating to expense claims totalling around £80,000.

It is alleged that the former MP for Luton South, who stood down at the last election, "flipped" her designated second home, making claims for properties in London, Luton and Southampton.

Other allegations include that she dishonestly claimed £22,500 to repair dry rot at her Southampton home.

She is also accused of falsely claiming £14,805 for boiler repairs and work on her conservatory.

At a previous hearing at Southwark Crown Court, James Sturman QC, counsel for Moran, urged the press to show "compassion and restraint" in reporting her case.

"These proceedings are a continual threat to her life, not just to her liberty, and the experts agree that she is unfit to plead," he said.

FOLLOW UK POLITICS

Former Labour MP Margaret Moran is not fit to stand trial on charges of fiddling her Parliamentary expenses, a court has been told. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph said Moran was suf...
Former Labour MP Margaret Moran is not fit to stand trial on charges of fiddling her Parliamentary expenses, a court has been told. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph said Moran was suf...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:

Filed by Christopher York  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 41
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
stuartjgray
0 Fans
10:25 AM on 12/15/2012
like anyone caught red handed with their hand in the till, they are bound to suffer extreme anxiety and agitation, and the stress of proceedings and allegations they face, but any other robbing b *****d has to face the music and go down! Knowing the Nanny state we live in, perhaps all accused criminals can now make the same claim so that the courts have to accept that it impossible for them to participate in court proceedings over their so claimed mental state as a result of them being caught!

She joins a long list of Senior Bankers and other founders of the economic depression we are in who are all now judged to be rich and bonkers and minus a criminal conviction!
Permalink  |
bullbrand
21 Fans
09:36 AM on 06/08/2012
people like that and you got people on the bread line take her houses of her to pay the taxpayers back and give it to people who need it or help people to get a job if there is one
Permalink  |
bullbrand
21 Fans
09:23 AM on 06/08/2012
just pay it back
Permalink  |
photo
cosmax
1 Fans
02:05 AM on 05/01/2012
If there is such a huge risk of self harm she should be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Permalink  |
delboy246
24 Fans
05:24 PM on 04/29/2012
you were strong enough to take the money so now do the time woman.
Permalink  |
daily record
4 Fans
10:05 AM on 04/29/2012
Boo hoo hoo. Caught stealing money from the tax payers, well,l wel,l well.
Permalink  |
Gragon
32 Fans
10:03 PM on 04/28/2012
Quite fit to be a thief though .
Permalink  |
johnhenry33
8 Fans
04:57 PM on 04/28/2012
If this was a housing benefit case against a single mother there would be easy reporting ,it would be jail plus a fine and repay the cash as well.The offence of this mp is the same as benefit fraud and should be prosecuted in the same manner,no mercy and guilty until proved innocent
Permalink  |
photo
douglas baxter
22 Fans
04:29 PM on 04/28/2012
How convenient!
Permalink  |
alanfinddlay1
82 Fans
04:15 PM on 04/28/2012
Then she should repay all the money she stole from the tax payer and cap her privileged gold plated pension or strip her from it altogether. She has caused her own illness and should never gain nothing from this.
Permalink  |
Theo20
0 Fans
07:16 PM on 04/28/2012
Abuse of elected public office should have at least 15 years in jail, plus all money and pensions taken away from them!!
There is no excuse, and none should be accepted!
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lord Justice Wolf
56 Fans
11:28 AM on 04/28/2012
What has always been so surprising is this: In any business in the country and presumably in any organisation in the western world, ANY employee suspected of financial fraud or embezzlement would be immediately removed from his/her post and suspended pending the outcome of said investigation. All Politicians were under suspician, all Law Lords were under suspician, most admitted to claiming there full allowance purely because "everyone did it"? Yet government were allowed to continue in there duties making financial laws and rulings on an entire nation, whilst allowing them the grace to cover up and falsify anything that could harm there defence? Why do the UK public stand and allow these theives to stay in there job giving them the chance to destroy the very soul of our country
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Michaelxx
34 Fans
10:48 AM on 04/28/2012
what a farce.. if that had been some some poor overworked member of the general public she would have to stand trial......one law for them and one for us...bloody corrupt
Permalink  |
mrsraisasharpe
122 Fans
03:50 AM on 04/28/2012
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
Crocodile tears should fall on deaf ears.
Permalink  |
northern git
fed up with all the political crap in life
188 Fans
08:19 AM on 04/28/2012
crocodile tears?

that photo suggests nothing more than a runny nose

perhaps she cannot afford a new hanky....................
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
jmmcmkn
214 Fans
07:37 PM on 04/27/2012
How the UK establishment loves the good old "Generalissimo Pinochet Deffence".
Permalink  |
photo
Johnowen
79 Fans
07:36 PM on 04/27/2012
Most of the MP's were on the expenses fiddle, but only one Conservative has been charged.

All the others that have been prosecuted, were Labour, but other members of parliament have got away with it.

David Laws admitted he made false claims, but he got away with it.
Permalink  |
photo
casual agent
Advocate for social justice
675 Fans
09:59 PM on 04/27/2012
Johnowen'...Yes thats right'...They all deserve what they get'..But as long as they get the ones who got away with it...Whatever their political persuasion....But I doubt they'll ever prosecute all of them?
Permalink  |
 
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)