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Campaign to pardon Pendle witches
Campaigners are calling for the Pendle witches to be pardoned.
Pendle MP Gordon Prentice led the calls after a petition was handed to the Scottish Parliament calling to clear the names of all people convicted under witchcraft legislation.
Pendle witches were hanged after being found guilty of witchcraft in 1612.
The 13 men and women were accused of witchcraft and murder by witchcraft after 17 people in and around the forest of Pendle died mysteriously. Ten were hanged at Lancaster jail in front of huge crowds.
Mr Prentice said: "I'm backing the moves in Scotland for the pardon as I was born in Edinburgh. I am definitely hopeful that they will be pardoned and that the Pendle witches will also be pardoned."
Mr Prentice called for the witches to be pardoned a decade ago, but Blackburn MP Jack Straw, who was Home Secretary at the time, decided the convictions should stand.
Now a new campaign has been started by Full Moon Investigations, a Scottish-based paranormal group, which handed the petition to the Scottish Parliament.
Andrea Byrne, co-founder of the group, said: "We believe that these people were innocent and were just the victims of unfortunate circumstances."
Local historian and ghost walker Simon Entwistle said: "I think the Pendle witches should be pardoned. I think their descendants would appreciate it and they have done so much for the area. They have made Pendle a tourism hotspot. This is the least we could do for them."
Pendle councillor George Adam said the witches' convictions were a "miscarriage of justice".
He said: "I would certainly support a petition to have the Pendle witches pardoned.
"I think a petition like this would bring the witches back into the limelight and as a result get more publicity for Pendle."
11:20am Saturday 15th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Paul, Skipton on 2:29pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Nice to know that all the problems in the pendle parlimentary ward have been solved so well that Mr. Prentice feels he can worry about events nearly 500 years ago. And MPs wonder why we don't take them seriously.
Nice to know that all the problems in the pendle parlimentary ward have been solved so well that Mr. Prentice feels he can worry about events nearly 500 years ago. And MPs wonder why we don't take them seriously.
Posted by: Sue W, Oakworth on 2:40pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Perhaps these MP's and Counciller's would do better to change the future, like we pay them to do, than meddle in something 400 years ago that they know nothing about and can never truely change.
Will they be trying to change Peter Sutcliffe's (Yorkshire Ripper)conviction in years to come by saying "Did he do it or did he mean to"
Perhaps these MP's and Counciller's would do better to change the future, like we pay them to do, than meddle in something 400 years ago that they know nothing about and can never truely change.
Will they be trying to change Peter Sutcliffe's (Yorkshire Ripper)conviction in years to come by saying "Did he do it or did he mean to"
Posted by: Robert Dean, West Craven on 12:56pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Hear Hear! Get on with some proper work Mr Prentice, like tackling the vandalism throughout Eary & Barlick, or put your efforts into improving the rail link between Colne & Skipton. Whilst it's perhaps a valiant offer, being 400 years ago it belongs in the past and the decendants of the Witches are probably proud that they are responsible for the rich cultural heritage that they have generated. Leave it be!
Hear Hear! Get on with some proper work Mr Prentice, like tackling the vandalism throughout Eary & Barlick, or put your efforts into improving the rail link between Colne & Skipton. Whilst it's perhaps a valiant offer, being 400 years ago it belongs in the past and the decendants of the Witches are probably proud that they are responsible for the rich cultural heritage that they have generated. Leave it be!
Posted by: Darren, Colne on 1:39pm Tue 18 Mar 08
I think my ex-wife is a decendent of a pendle witch !
I'd[bold]bold[/bold] say "Dont pardon them, bring back hanging".
I think my ex-wife is a decendent of a pendle witch !
I'd say "Dont pardon them, bring back hanging".
Posted by: JEFF, Skitpon on 4:19am Fri 21 Mar 08
MP's are all living in the past anyway. they don't know whats happenning in the real world anyway.Can i also ask for a pardon in 400 years time for my post today 2008 telling MP Gordon Prentice to do something useful stop wasting our time and money.
MP's are all living in the past anyway. they don't know whats happenning in the real world anyway.Can i also ask for a pardon in 400 years time for my post today 2008 telling MP Gordon Prentice to do something useful stop wasting our time and money.
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