MY initial reaction was one of disbelief. A wind-up surely? But then again, in this litigation mad, compensation culture society, anything goes these days.

A woman strays into the grounds of Carlisle Castle. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning by the way. She stumbles into the moat injuring her hip.

In another era they would have done her for trespass. But not now. She got £15,000 compensation from English Heritage plus more than £37,000 to cover her legal fees. There is a growing tendency to settle out of court rather than feed the ever-hungry bank accounts of compensation lawyers.

That, I suspect, is what happened in this case. Common sense tells you the woman had no business to be there at that time of the morning and, whatever misfortune followed, it was largely of her own making.

Afternoon television viewers must think there’s a compensation gravy train to be ridden, judging by the number of adverts from legal firms offering to fight no win, no fee claims.

Of course there are far more genuine claims than the spurious examples which make the headlines, like the one with the bloke who stuck his fingers in a cup of hot coffee to test the temperature and then claimed there was no warning sign in the cafe to guard against such crass stupidity.

That’s what makes it more sickening when you hear of pay outs for people like the woman who fell into the castle moat. Their cases detract from the real issues of negligence which leave victims permanently impaired and in need of long-term treatment and care.

The reality is that there is no bottomless pot of money available to lob out to cheeky claimants who know that, in most instances, they will win an out of court settlement simply because contesting cases is so costly.

Ultimately their cash comes from the public purse and from heightened insurance costs that we have to meet to cover the risks of these dubious claims.

It is wholly wrong that laws designed to protect victims of genuine negligence are being exploited by the lazy and unscrupulous in order to make a quick buck.

It’s high time the situation was addressed by the law makers and judges. For far too long the concept of taking personal responsibility for your actions has been shuffled into the background as compensation claimants have seen pound notes fluttering before their eyes as if a gift from the heavens to reward their own carelessness and greed.

YOU ASKED FOR IT!

WELL, here we are, election day has come and gone. Soon the euphoria of pledges and promises will disappear in a cloud of grey fiscal reality. Hard times lie ahead of us.

Someone sent me a little joke this week that had that grim ring of truth hidden within.

A politician dies and goes to the gates of Heaven where he meets St. Peter who gives him the choice between spending eternity in Heaven or Hell. The MP opts for Heaven, but St. Peter explains that, before making his final choice, he must spend a day in each.

When the lift drops him off in Hell he sees a lush golf course, a sparkling new clubhouse serving free drinks and fine food, and is greeted with open arms by all of his former banking and political pals who passed on before him.

Following a wonderful round of golf and a sumptuous dinner he is returned to the gates of Heaven and handed a harp and sent up on to a fluffy cloud floating high above some wonderful calming scenery.

After his day in Heaven he is asked by St. Peter where he wants to go. The politician admits Heaven was very nice, but says he was surprised just how marvellous it was in Hell and, with due consideration, he would like to go there.

Down he goes, but when he steps out the lift all he sees is barren wastes and litter blowing in a bitter wind. His old pals are in rags. No sign of the golf complex.

“What happened to it all?” he asked. “Last time I was here it was everything I ever wanted from the after-life.” “Ah,” said one ex-colleague. “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted!”

SHAME ON US ALL

PETER Harvey’s story is the teaching equivalent of Michael Douglas’s character in the film Falling Down, a man who could not take any more and snapped.

Harvey did not buy a gun and go round shooting people who offended him. But he did clobber an ill-disciplined, obnoxious 14-year-old about the head and ended up in court charged with attempted murder.

Harvey’s case should reflect shame on every one of us for allowing this country to become so infected by the yob culture that a dedicated teacher finally could take no more. I was outraged to read a letter in one newspaper suggesting it was Harvey’s fault because he had been mentally weak.

What exactly do we expect of teachers in certain schools nowadays? Indeed, what kind of schools are they that allow kids to bring camcorders into class to record the baiting of staff?

My blood boils when I read stories like this. Of course Mr. Harvey should not have lost his rag. But I don’t think I could stand there and take what he had to take from out of control pupils who know their rights and are fully aware there is no discipline likely to be effectively enforced against them.

Thank goodness I am not a teacher if it means teaching in schools like the one portrayed in the court case. I would probably be in the dock facing charges as well. Schools in many areas of the country are fined if they expel violent and abusive pupils. Teachers dare not touch misbehaving pupils for fear they are going to be suspended, sacked and even taken to court. Backing for teachers from heads and managers is woefully absent in too many of these establishments.

Peter Harvey’s school sounds like a blackboard jungle. They used to teach kids the three Rs — reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic. More’s the pity they don’t instruct them and their parents in two other Rs these days — respect and responsibility.

I bet those kids were really chuffed with themselves at how they wrecked Mr. Harvey’s career. They probably wished he’d got life, although they have probably helped to effectively destroy his life already. It’s our world where this happens and it should be our collective shame.

A PREMIER FAN

JOHN Stangrom is blind, but that doesn’t stop him travelling the length and breadth of England ticking off non-league football grounds. He is part of that legion of hard-bitten enthusiasts called The Groundhoppers who adhere to a strict code in pursuance of their pleasure.

John, along with his guide dog, recently decided it was time for a visit to Penrith’s new Frenchfield ground, so set off from his home in Suffolk to watch the Northern League game against Chester-le-Street before catching the overnight train to Euston and making his way across London then via another connection back home, arriving at 10am the next day.

However, his marathon trek was in vain because league officials declared the result void due to Penrith fielding an ineligible player. Under groundhopping rules his visit doesn’t count. John, undeterred and unfazed, says he will simply have to do it all again.

Forget the glory hunters who trek from Cumbria to Old Trafford and Anfield every Saturday following the herd. John Stangrom is the real deal when it comes to being a supporter.