header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
06 March 2008 / Seamus Burns
Issue: 7311 / Categories: Features , Public , Human rights , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

The killer question

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Should convicted murderers be granted artificial insemination facilities in prison? Seamus Burns investigates

The decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in Dickson v United Kingdom (Application 44362/04) [2007] All ER (D) 59 (Dec) that the home secretary’s refusal to provide a convicted murderer in jail with facilities for artificial insemination violated Art 8 (right to family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention), has generated considerable consternation.

 

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

The applicant, Kirk Dickson, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1994 with a tariff of 15 years. He met the second applicant (Lorraine Dickson) through a prison penpal network, when she was in prison serving a 12-month sentence. She was released and in 2001 the applicants married. had three children from previous relationships. In December 2002 they both applied for facilities for artificial insemination: given Kirk’s earliest release date (2009), and ’s age then (51), it was unlikely they would be able to have a child together

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

Muckle LLP—Roland Fairlamb

Muckle LLP—Roland Fairlamb

Specialist associate solicitor rejoins Muckle’s leading employment team

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Property cases reshape established principles
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
NLJ this week: Stress ruling raises the bar for employers
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
NLJ this week: Can Manchesterism revive access to justice?
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
NLJ this week: Constitutional conventions tested as power changes hands
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
NLJ this week: Lawyers must become product designers
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll