THE concept of “jigsaw identification” necessarily implies a number of components. There is no such thing as a one-piece jigsaw puzzle. This being so, if one piece (piece A) constitutes jigsaw identification only in conjunction with at least one other piece (piece B) then it follows as an iron law of logic that piece B must constitute jigsaw identification when put together with piece A.
How then can it be considered just or fair that the author of one piece is prosecuted but not the author of the other piece(s)? If one has offended then the other must also have done so. On the basis of what criteria is only one targeted by the justice system?
READ MORE: Craig Murray hands himself into police to begin jail sentence
It would seem that only two things distinguish Craig Murray from any or all of the other pieces in this jigsaw identification. One is that he works in the new online media rather than the traditional media. The other is that his reporting of the trial of Alex Salmond sought to compensate for woeful under-reporting of the defence case in the traditional media.
Does either or both of these criteria seem adequate justification for the selective persecution of Craig Murray? To put it another way, does working for a traditional media outlet rather than publishing a blog, or favouring the (failed) prosecution in a high-profile criminal case rather than providing balanced reporting, constitute adequate grounds to be granted exemption from prosecution for an offence identical in all relevant regards to that for which another has been imprisoned?
These questions go to the heart of Scotland’s justice system and so demand thoughtful responses.
Peter A Bell
Perth
THEY say that justice is blind. In 21st-century Scotland it certainly seems to be. I cannot help but contrast the 160-hour community payback order imposed on a man who sent a series of “menacing and obscene private messages”, including threats of sexual violence, to Joanna Cherry MP, with the eight-month jail sentence imposed on blogger and journalist Craig Murray. I have to seriously wonder if Murray would even have been found guilty of a crime of any kind had a jury had been involved in case.
I thought the punishment was supposed to fit the crime, but in these two cases it most certainly does not. When you also consider the recent case of the arrest and trial of Mark Hirst, Scotland is fast becoming a rather dangerous place to be a journalist.
READ MORE: Craig Murray says he ‘will go to jail with clean conscience’ ahead of sentence
The once proud Scottish legal system is still reeling from the fiasco of the Alex Salmond case and the multimillion-pound scandal of the malicious prosecution of the Rangers directors, with more massive compensation claims in the pipeline.
The same justice and legal systems seem unable to stem the increasing tide of drug-related deaths and misery by prosecuting and locking up the dealers and manufacturers of deadly wee blue pills and other illegal drugs.
John Baird
Largs
HOW ironic that on the day a genuine independence supporter has to surrender to a politically motivated eight-month jail term concerning the mishandled Salmond fiasco, we read of our government capitulating, on many occasions, to the commercial whims of the greedy, unelected Windsors.
The SNP are proving to be a rump of hybrid political persuasions, which now, with regular exposure, is detrimental to the support for independence. John Laurie in Dad’s Army as Captain Fraser expressed the feelings of many Yes supporters as they watch “Lizzies’s Lapdogs” in Holyrood topping up the Buckingham Palace Bowl: “We’re Doomed”.
Sandy Coghill
Sligachan, Isle of Skye
IT appears that a journalist, albeit not one of the mainstream media, has been sent to prison for contempt of court. Apparently, Craig Murray had not held to the standards of behaviour followed by the journalists employed by the mainstream media. Try not to snigger. And yet not one mention of this in this Sunday’s National, not even a mention that this had occurred, never mind the threat this poses to all journalism in Scotland ... or what presently passes for this. Scandalous.
George White
Cupar, Fife
A FEW observations on Alex Cole-Hamilton’s début performance as leader of the LibDems (Cole-Hamilton sent ‘false’ Covid information, Jul 31). 1) I see ACH has not changed his habit of making a mistake and then blaming someone else for making him do it. 2) I don’t see why leaders of other parties think they have to rephrase public health advice, almost as if they want to take unearned credit for it. 3) ACH, so far, seems to be about as effective as Willie Rennie but with a distinct lack of comedy!
Derek Ball
Bearsden
REGARDING the letter from Harry Key about Boris and his dog being alike (Jul 30), I was previously unaware that Boris chewed furniture and peed on handbags.
M Ross
Aviemore
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel