A brilliant man lost

WHO could blame Nobel Laureate Sir Tim Hunt for seeking a new life in Japan after being shamefully hounded out of his job at University College London over exaggerated allegations of sexism?

True, his remarks about the tendency of some women scientists to fall in love with colleagues and cry when criticised were ill-advised but they were made in jest over lunch, with no intention to offend.

Following a row totally manufactured by feminist zealots (led by a woman who, the Mail revealed, had falsified her own CV) the ruthlessness with which he was purged was a cruel and disgraceful humiliation of a distinguished man who’s made a great contribution to medicine.

Now Sir Tim’s wife, Prof Mary Collins – a brilliant immunologist who was furious at her husband’s treatment – has found a new academic berth in Japan. So because of one poorly-timed joke, Britain loses two of its most renowned scientists.

What a depressing indictment of our priggish, cowardly, politically- correct academic establishment. They should be ashamed of themselves. WITH no trains to Heathrow for four days over Christmas – and the main line to Gatwick closed for ten – the Mail has a question: do Network Rail bosses ever give a thought to the misery they are inflicting on families at the one time of year they want most to be together. IN a rare outbreak of judicial common sense, the High Court has allowed exParas accused over the Bloody Sunday shootings to be questioned by voluntary arrangement rather than being arrested and dragged to the police station. After nearly 44 years, the real tragedy is that they are facing prosecution at all, while IRA murderers walk free.