Dutroux escort costs €50,000… while prison doctors don’t get paid

Doctors at Nivelles prison, where child killer Marc Dutroux is currently serving a life sentence, haven’t been paid for the months of October, November and December 2012, La Dernière Heure reports today. In an interview with the newspaper, assistant prison doctor Dr Paul Gourdin deplores today’s transfer of Marc Dutroux to Brussels for a parole hearing, and especially the cost of his protection when there is "a perfectly suitable room within Nivelles prison”. The total cost of ensuring Dutroux during today’s court appearance is estimated at €50,000. That money "could be used to pay doctors, nurses and paramedics who work in prisons. Contrary to what had been promised, we are still waiting to be paid" [for the last three months of last year], Dr Gourdin added. "If the authorities can spend €50,000 for chauffeuring Marc Dutroux, maybe they could also use this money to pay the Nivelles chemist who provides prescription drugs to the prison. That is roughly what she is owed, " laments the doctor. "Resignations are to be expected; 4,000 members of the medical profession who work in Belgian prisons have had enough.”