The House in the Hole

About this episode

The episode explores the violent crime committed by Albert Dryden and the complex public reaction to it.

On a hot summer’s day in 1991, a violent crime took place that shook Consett, a town in the North East of England. When threatened with the legal demolition of a property he owned, a former steelworker called Albert Dryden went on a murderous rampage, killing the council’s chief planning officer and seriously wounding a policeman and a journalist. Furthermore, the brutal crime was filmed and broadcast on national news. But what made the crime even more perplexing was its controversial aftermath. While the majority of people condemned Dryden’s actions, a vocal minority came to see him as something of a folk hero. This wasn’t the usual morbid fascination that can sometimes gather around certain violent criminals; it was admiration. Crowds cheered outside his court hearings and “Free Albert Dryden” posters were not an uncommon sight around town – even songs were written about him. How can a cold-blooded killer ever gain public support? Writer Joe Zadeh takes a close look at details surrounding this incident in an attempt to examine these rare yet recurring moments in history, when moral values turn upside down and everyday citizens find themselves excusing the most horrific crimes…

People in this episode

Host: Joe Zadeh

Topics covered

• violent crime
• public perception
• moral values
• folk hero
• legal issues
• media coverage

Keywords

• Albert Dryden
• Consett
• violent crime
• folk hero
• 1991
• planning officer
• public support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 4

Places: Consett

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