Letter: How to deal with bird women and feral pigeons
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Jean Knowlson was not sent to prison because she put food down for birds. She was sent to prison because she deliberately defied a court order ("The bird woman dilemma", 26 July).
I have no doubt that Mrs Knowlson was given ample opportunity to put her side of the case at the hearing of the application for an injunction. The judge, having heard and considered the evidence, made an order restraining Mrs Knowlson from certain acts.
The written injunction order would, as is standard practice, have been endorsed with a penal notice informing Mrs Knowlson that if she disobeyed the order she would be in contempt of court and might be sent to prison. If Mrs Knowlson was in court when the order was made, this would have been explained to her. Additionally, or in the alternative, the order would have been served upon her personally and her attention drawn to the penal notice.
If Mrs Knowlson deliberately chose to flout the court order, having been informed of the consequences of so doing in advance, then what choice did the judge have but to enforce the order and send her to prison? To do otherwise would have made a mockery of our judicial system - it matters not whether the defendant was a female pensioner or an 18-year-old skinhead.
Yours faithfully,
Jane Dowell
Marcus-Barnet Solicitors
London, N1
25 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments