There has to be some sort of sacrifice

TODAY we carry two stories that tell of prison life.

The contrast between the two is stark.

One tells of a man who found religion behind bars and turned his life around. Anthony Gielty was caged because of his violent lifestyle but he emerged as a different person.

The other story is quite different.

A punishment system that offers wedding planners isn’t sending the right message.

A prison regime that details buffet options for criminals’ celebratory events is beyond the pale.

A jail that offers its warders as wedding photographers (but gives a warning about the quality of the photos) is, frankly, verging on the ridiculous.

It is imperative that a prison supports and educates its inmates. A prison’s first aim should always be rehabilitation.

But, equally, there has to be some kind of sacrifice made by criminals while they are incarcerated.

The wider public will react with nothing but scorn to a prison weddings “flow chart” that illustrates the ceremony part of the process with drawings of fireworks.

It might be funny if it wasn’t so idiotic.

Are you comfortable with your taxes being spent on catering for criminals’ wedding receptions?