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Friday, August 07, 2009

Ronnie Biggs's just deserts

Ronnie Biggs's just deserts

As a frail, ill man, and the victim of a political decision by Jack Straw, Ronnie Biggs deserved to be released from custody

On the 9 August 1963, Elvis Presley was number one in the pop charts with The Devil in Disguise. On the front page of every national newspaper was the story about a gang who had, in the early hours of the day before, held up and robbed the Glasgow-to-London mail train and got away with £2.6m.

I served time with Gordon Goody, one of the Great Train Robbers. I did not get to meet Ronnie Biggs inside because he had escaped, before my time, preferring an extended holiday in Brazil to a prison cell in Blighty. Who could blame him?

Guardian Commentisfree article here

UPDATE:

Ronne Biggs released: what happened to the rest of the gang?

The Great Train Robbery turned those involved, including Ronnie Biggs, into some of Britain's most notorious criminals.


"Biggs, who was granted "compassionate release" from his prison sentence by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, is perhaps the best known but what happened to the rest of the gang?"

3 comments:

James Higham said...

I'd agree but many don't.

jailhouselawyer said...

James: It would appear so from most of the comments on CIF.

Anonymous said...

I am glad he is now free John, but a terrible way to die.



IRONSIDE