Police killer Cregan ‘will die in prison’

MURDERER Dale Cregan has admitted the murders of a father and son in Greater Manchester.

Cregan (29) admitted the murders of policewomen Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in Hattersley last September, but yesterday changed his not guilty pleas to the murder of Mark and David Short and admitted both crimes. The change came on the eve of his barrister’s closing speech to the jury.

Cregan also admitted causing an explosion with a hand–grenade at an address in Droylsden - but denies the attempted murder of the occupant.

Cregan lured the unarmed policewomen with a bogus emergency call before using a pistol and a grenade to kill them. The killing of David Short the previous month had been carried out in a similar way — with the same gun and grenade type.

Later Cregan gunned down Mark Short as he played pool in the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden.

His barrister, Simon Csoka QC, began the day by asking six of the seven remaining counts to be put to his client again. Cregan answered “guilty” to the murder charges, and to the attempted murders of John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher, all of whom were in the Cotton Tree during the killing.

Gregan also admitted causing an explosion in Luke Road, Droylsden shortly after the murder of David Short.

Cregan remained on trial for the single allegation remaining, the attempted murder of Sharon Hark.

In his closing speech, Mr Csoka said the jury’s task was simpler: “You now know for sure that he has murdered four people and that he has attempted to murder others inside the Cotton Tree pub.

“Ordinarily in a closing speech the defence barrister will tell you how important your task is, how it makes so much difference, how the liberty of the defendant hangs in the balance. All of those words mean nothing now.

“You may think after what has just happened, ‘what does it matter now?’. He is going to be sentenced for four murders and three attempted murders. He is not going anywhere. He is going to die in prison.”

The jury is expected to retire to consider it verdict in the first week in June.