• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - Johnny\'s Pub Quiz
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna- January and February at the Austrian Film Museum
• Vienna - Art by Petronilla Hohenwarter.
• STOMP at the MuseumsQuartier

© europics.at

17. 12. 09. - 16:00

• more Panorama news
• RSS Feed Panorama

17. 12. 09. - 16:00

Fritzl may receive Christmas blessing

By Thomas Hochwarter

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could be given a Christmas blessing from a local bishop, it has emerged.

Vienna newspaper Heute reports today (Thurs) Sankt Pölten Bishop diocesan bishop Klaus Küng is to bless inmates at a traditional Christmas mass at the grim Stein prison in Krems, Lower Austria where Fritzl is being held.

It is unclear whether Fritzl will go to the mass or not, but if he does, like other prisoners, he will receive the bishop’s blessing.

The daily reported the mass will be held on 22 December for organisational reasons, adding that fried salmon and potato salad were for dinner on 24 December at Stein jail.

Fritzl will also, along with other inmates, get special privileges on the day with prisoners allowed to sleep-in on 24 December instead of being woken as normal at 7am. They will then be allowed to play billiards or table soccer.

Fritzl, 74, is serving a life sentence after he kept his daughter Elisabeth jailed in a dungeon beneath his family home in Amstetten and repeatedly raped her and fathered seven children by her, one of which he let die when it was born with breathing complications.

According to latest reports he does little other than stare at the walls in his one-man cell all day at the jail.

Security measures on the wing where Fritzl is being kept were reportedly upped amid fears other prisoners were planning to kill him.

Claims that Fritzl might consider committing suicide were however recently dismissed by a leading psychiatrist.

Adelheid Kastner – who was assigned to determine Fritzl’s psychological state ahead of his trial – said: "Fritzl crossed so many borders but he has some nevertheless. He would never commit suicide as he has got certain ideas of justice. He now wants to take responsibility for his crimes."

Kastner, who recently released a book about fathers who abuse their children called "Täter - Väter. Väter als Täter am eigenen Kind" (Offenders – Fathers), also rubbished Fritzl’s claims he acted purely based on a horrible childhood shaped by a cruel mother, stressing he "always had the choice" what to do with his life.

"He was not insane at any point," she added.

Austrian Times

Related articles: quirky Austria

1. 007 health worries Lugner

   » Panorama 2012-02-07

   Richard Lugner has expressed concerns about Sir Roger Moore’s health.

2. Lugner bags Bond

   » Panorama 2012-02-02

   Danish model Brigitte Nielsen and "James Bond" star Sir Roger Moore will accompany an Austrian entrepreneur at this year’s Vienna Opera Ball.

3. DocLX abolishes booze ads

   » Business 2012-01-13

   Austria’s leading post-graduation holiday organiser promised to stop advertising around-the-clock alcohol supply.

more related articles tagged "quirky Austria"

Related articles: Fritzl

1. Kampusch dad skint and behind bars, paper claims

   » General News 2011-10-21

   The father of a young woman who was kidnapped at the age of 10 in 1998 and locked up by her pervert captor for eight years has been arrested, according to a report.

2. Manker fined €3,200

   » General News 2011-10-19

   An appeal court has confirmed a fine issued to director, actor and author Paulus Manker.

3. SM bar boss admits attempted abduction

   » General News 2011-10-05

   A sadomasochism (SM) sex club manager has been sentenced to seven years behind bars for trying to abduct a teenager.

more related articles tagged "Fritzl"

Burgtheater stages Tennessee Williams hit
A German version of Tennessee Williams’ most popular play is now on at the Burgtheater.

Electricity supplier switch barriers to disappear
People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner has promised a further reduction of bureaucratic obstacles for people planning to change their electricity providers.

Erste Bank expert optimistic about Hungary
The chief analyst of Austria’s biggest bank has said chances for a political agreement about the difficult economic condition of Hungary are good.

Greens write off debt brake accord
Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has claimed the government stopped being interested in adding a debt brake to the constitution.

007 health worries Lugner
Richard Lugner has expressed concerns about Sir Roger Moore’s health.

Coalition close to cutback consent
Social Democratic (SPÖ) State Secretary Andreas Schieder has confirmed that the government reached the final stage of its savings package talks.

End of austerity package talks in sight, says Khol
A People’s Party (ÖVP) board member has claimed that the upcoming savings package would be presented within the coming days.

The Loo-vre Gallery
A group of artists have declared independence for 25 toilets put up in Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria and have used the 3 foot square interior to build their own mini kingdoms.

Food discounts with new ZOOcard at Schönbrunn
The new ZOOcard at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria is offering more discounts and foodie concessions than ever before to its regular visitors.

Organic door to door
For almost a month now a company in Burgenland, Austria have been carrying out door to door organic deliveries. The new venture entitled "BioSchatzkistl" puts together boxes of fresh organic food products and brings them right to your door.