Mistyeyeddreamer
24-02-03, 12:49 PM
I saw this story in today's daily mail. Unfortunately it's not on their website and my scanner is still not working. I think it's important so I'll type it out here. (please excuse any typos)
A pensioner was driven to suicide after being harassed by vandals. Issac Bishop, a retired steelworker, fell into despair after youths damaged his roof and pestered him repeatedly.
The 66 year old told his son, who has learning difficulties, that he intended to take his own life. On November 24 last year, he sent his son to the local police station with a suicide note in a sealed envelope. While he ran the errand, Mr.Bishop used a saucepan to hammer a dagger into his heart.
On Friday, an inquest in Workington, Cumbria, heard how the widower - known as Ike - became 'worried and stressed' a few months before his death. Coroner John Taylor, sitting at West Allerdale magistrates court, heard that Mr.Bishop planned to die.
His 39 year old son, Malcolm told the inquest: 'He said he had to do it to himself. He told me on that night before he gave me the note. He didn't say how he was going to do it and that it wasn't my fault.' He added: 'My father was a kind and loving man and I had a strong relationship with him. I used to see him five days a week and most weekends. He was a sociable man who had a few close friends.'
The inquest heard that Mr.Bishop had also written a letter to one of his two sisters, Deann Brown, who lives in Durham. They had not seen each other since 1996 but kept in touch. she received his last letter two days after his death.
'My brother used to write to me every week.' she said. 'In the last letter he said he was sick of everything and wanted to die. I know he had problems with vandals - and he said he was frightened of someone. He said it might be the last letter I got from him. I can't understand where he got the dagger. No one should die that way.'
The coroner, Mr.Taylor, said: 'We have heard Isaac had a little bit of worry and stress about the children that lived in his street and that other matters had got on top of him and as a result he formed the intention of taking his own life.' He recorded a verdict of suicide.
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I felt I should write to the Daily Mail and here is what I said:
Sir,
What a desperately sad story you published about Mr.Isaac Bishop who was driven to suicide by vandals. (DM 24.2.03)
I was disappointed in the comments of the coroner, Mr.Taylor, i.e. 'We have heard Isaac had a little bit of worry and stress about the children that lived in his street.....' Anybody who has suffered at the hands of these young thugs will tell you it's hardly 'a little bit of trouble'. Unless you have been the victim in a case like this you will have no idea of the alarm and distress that can be caused by young kids who think it is a laugh to target somebody, especially if you are old, sick or in any other way vulnerable.
The feeling of isolation when trying to get help from the police and local authority and finding, in many cases, that your complaints are viewed as trivial, can drive many to despair.
May I invite anybody who has similar problems, or any kind of 'neighbour' problem, and has access to the internet to visit http://www.nfh.org.uk which is an online community offering help, advice and support. We cannot promise we will solve your problem but we can help take away that feeling of isolation.
If this letter should be published, will you please omit my name and address, as I have been the victim of such antisocial behaviour.
Thank you
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Misty
A pensioner was driven to suicide after being harassed by vandals. Issac Bishop, a retired steelworker, fell into despair after youths damaged his roof and pestered him repeatedly.
The 66 year old told his son, who has learning difficulties, that he intended to take his own life. On November 24 last year, he sent his son to the local police station with a suicide note in a sealed envelope. While he ran the errand, Mr.Bishop used a saucepan to hammer a dagger into his heart.
On Friday, an inquest in Workington, Cumbria, heard how the widower - known as Ike - became 'worried and stressed' a few months before his death. Coroner John Taylor, sitting at West Allerdale magistrates court, heard that Mr.Bishop planned to die.
His 39 year old son, Malcolm told the inquest: 'He said he had to do it to himself. He told me on that night before he gave me the note. He didn't say how he was going to do it and that it wasn't my fault.' He added: 'My father was a kind and loving man and I had a strong relationship with him. I used to see him five days a week and most weekends. He was a sociable man who had a few close friends.'
The inquest heard that Mr.Bishop had also written a letter to one of his two sisters, Deann Brown, who lives in Durham. They had not seen each other since 1996 but kept in touch. she received his last letter two days after his death.
'My brother used to write to me every week.' she said. 'In the last letter he said he was sick of everything and wanted to die. I know he had problems with vandals - and he said he was frightened of someone. He said it might be the last letter I got from him. I can't understand where he got the dagger. No one should die that way.'
The coroner, Mr.Taylor, said: 'We have heard Isaac had a little bit of worry and stress about the children that lived in his street and that other matters had got on top of him and as a result he formed the intention of taking his own life.' He recorded a verdict of suicide.
____________________________________________
I felt I should write to the Daily Mail and here is what I said:
Sir,
What a desperately sad story you published about Mr.Isaac Bishop who was driven to suicide by vandals. (DM 24.2.03)
I was disappointed in the comments of the coroner, Mr.Taylor, i.e. 'We have heard Isaac had a little bit of worry and stress about the children that lived in his street.....' Anybody who has suffered at the hands of these young thugs will tell you it's hardly 'a little bit of trouble'. Unless you have been the victim in a case like this you will have no idea of the alarm and distress that can be caused by young kids who think it is a laugh to target somebody, especially if you are old, sick or in any other way vulnerable.
The feeling of isolation when trying to get help from the police and local authority and finding, in many cases, that your complaints are viewed as trivial, can drive many to despair.
May I invite anybody who has similar problems, or any kind of 'neighbour' problem, and has access to the internet to visit http://www.nfh.org.uk which is an online community offering help, advice and support. We cannot promise we will solve your problem but we can help take away that feeling of isolation.
If this letter should be published, will you please omit my name and address, as I have been the victim of such antisocial behaviour.
Thank you
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Misty