It is said that embarrassing the government is not a good idea ! Politicians carry grudges - and they have long memories - and they never forgive - and they never forget !
Such is the plight of Ronnie Biggs, the " Great Train Robber " who robbed a mail train in 1963 and made off with a then record amount of loot. Ronnie and other members of his gang were caught by the British police, put on trial - and Ronnie was sentenced to a thirty year prison term.
Apparently Ronnie was less than satisfied with the hospitality of the government - and did a bunk over the wall.
And that's where he became famous - almost an icon in criminal history. Ronnie successfully lived here in Australia for some years, before fleeing to Brazil where he married and fathered a child.
The British government went to extraordinary lengths to have him extradited, but to no avail. Ronnie was always one jump ahead, and the British government simply gnashed it's teeth in rage when it was reported that he had been guest of honour at a cocktail party held on a British warship in Rio.
Eventually, Ronnie became homesick. It is rumoured that he arranged a deal with the British government. He would return voluntarily in exchange for a short term in prison - and then an early release.
It seems that the British government reneged on this deal - and Ronnie has languished in a prison cell ever since. Now, the British parole board and the state medical team have approved his release because of deteriorating health. The plan was to move him - now aged 79 - to a nursing home for the final short life span remaining.
But that was dashed when the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw refused to sign the release document, and now it seems that a sick old man will end his days confined to a dank prison cell.
Which is a reminder that embarrassing a government is a sure way to extinguish any hope of mercy.
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