Hanging resonates to haunt another Aussie family

A DAUGHTER of the last man hanged in Victoria has spoken out against capital punishment, saying it haunts family members down the generations.

Pip Donovan, whose father Ronald Ryan was hanged at Pentridge Prison in 1967, said the death penalty would forever haunt the friends and relatives of those condemnded to die.

"It plays with people's minds and it ruins lives," she said. "It's uncivilised, insane and barbaric."

Ms Donovan said she enjoyed the support of a close family, but the pain of her father's death resonated through the generations.

"There is more than one victim here. There are the families," she said.

"It doesn't stop after the death has happened. The pain spreads its tentacles through the generations."

She was 11-years-old when her dad was hanged. She did not witness it.

Based on her own experiences, she said Nguyen's family would probably be experienceing overwhelming grief, disbelief and rage.

"You have to feel for the family," she said. "They are going to be devastated, grieving, angry and sad."

While she does not condone drug trafficking she said he "didn't deserve the death penalty".

She implored Singapore to end its regime of mandatory capital punishment.

"Please, no more," she said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sunday, 04 December 2005
Source: Sunday Territorian
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au