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Ian Murray
Ian Murray
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‘Lessons have been learnt’ from veil row

by Alex Scapens
7/ 5/2008

THE magistrate at the centre of the Muslim veil row has admitted he would now do things differently - but says a similar culture clash could happen again.

Ian Murray, of Bath Crescent, Cheadle Hulme, walked out of court when confronted with niqab-wearing Zoobia Hussain, saying her face-covering head dress raised identity issues.

He was given a formal reprimand and training on ‘appropriate judicial guidelines’ before making a complaint on the way the probe into his actions was handled.

This week, following the ombudsman finding that this investigation was correctly conducted, Mr Murray has explained his stance and why the potential is there for other such incidents.

He said: "I feel the way courts are going, dealing with a wide variety of people, there is a huge change in the type of case and person that is coming before the courts. It is more multi-cultural and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But it has to be fair and level for everyone. That is why I made a weighted decision."

Mr Murray, who is also a taxi driver, added that he felt Miss Hussain’s dress may mean that she did not get a fair trial.

He said: "We have all learned lessons from this, it has been an eye-opener. I would have done things differently, I would have spelt things out and absolutely kept to the guide lines. They are very open to interpretion and I interpreted them incorrectly."

Mr Murray returned to the bench after an absence of six months in February. He has been a magistrate for 12 years, but had to have additional refresher training upon his return to familiarise himself with new acts that had been passed in his absence.

The process that saw him reprimanded was what Mr Murray had questioned and despite a review not finding in his favour he accepts its decision.

Mr Murray said: "It’s time to move on. I accept the decision and just want to get back to how things were before. I feel I now have closure."


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Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   Why should he have to "do things differently" ??????

As was stated in an earlier reply .... he did things exactly right last time !!!!

Lets stop eroding OUR National identity !!!, this is Britain .......... have people forgotten the old saying "when in Rome ..." if a Briton chooses to live and work abroad (eg; Saudi Arabia) we have to abide by their codes, lets have the same thing in this Country !!!. I not against other nationalities coming to this Country to seek work and live but you must respect our British culture and stop trying to change us !!!! This would not be tolerated in Australia, as their Goverment says, if you do not like the way we live, do not choose to live here.
Dennis the Menace, Hyde
10/05/2008 at 01:51
   Backpedalling may be a very good circus act but, like most circus acts, somewhat short on dignity. He was right first time round but that no longer matters, it seems.
Roy Gregory, Exile
7/05/2008 at 23:01
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