Cregan bailed in June

Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said it was “absolutely normal” for police to have bailed the man now accused of killing two unarmed policewomen.

Cregan was arrested in June in connection with another murder but released on bail.

Constables Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes had been sent to investigate what appeared to be a routine burglary report when they were attacked.

Soon afterwards one of the country’s most wanted men, Dale Cregan, gave himself up to police.

Commenting today the chief constable said in a statement: “It is absolutely normal in the course of complex crime inquiries that when people are arrested there are occasions where there is insufficient evidence available for them to be charged.

“There are strict time limits covering how long suspects can be held in custody without charge. That is exactly what happened in this case.”

Cregan was Britain’s most wanted man: Greater Manchester Police had offered its biggest-ever reward - £50,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Oldham has been linked to the hunt for Cregan several times. A silver Ford Fiesta, believed to be Cregan and alleged accomplice Anthony Wilkinson’s getaway car, was dumped in Lord Lane, Failsworth, on August 10. The area was immediately cordoned off and searched by bomb squad, forensics staff and sniffer dogs.

A Failsworth laundry was also raided by armed officers with machine guns, bolt cutters and dogs.

Officers also executed a warrant on a house in Coppice on Friday and a house in Stalybridge. Two men, aged 37 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Wilkinson (33), from Beswick, was arrested by armed police at a park in Openshaw on September 3 and charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.






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