Police killer Cregan gets life imprisonment

Serial killer Dale Cregan was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murders of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes last September. Speaking at the sentencing, the judge branded Cregan’s actions an “act of premeditated savagery”.

Cregan, 30, will spend the rest of his life in jail after he admitted to killing the police officers, as well as father and son David and Mark Short. 

At Preston Crown Court, judge Holroyde QC stated that Cregan had “pursued them with a cold-blooded determination to end their lives”.

Mr Cregan gunned down Mark Short in May 2012 at Cotton Tree pub in Greater Manchester whilst the following August he attacked Mark’s father, David, with grenades at his home, also in Greater Manchester.

Cregan’s killing spree was concluded with the murder of PC Bone and PC Hughes as he lured them to a hoax break-in, where he trapped them and shot them.

In a statement following the verdict, Nicola Hughes’s family said: “He has lost nothing. He had already committed two murders and was destined for a lifetime behind bars. He chose on that day to murder our daughter and leave our lives completely devastated – a life barely worth living without her.”

Luke Livesey and Damian Gorman were also given life sentences after being convicted of Mark Short’s murder and the attempted murder of three people at Cotton Tree pub the night of Mark Short’s murder.

Jermaine Ward and Anthony Wilkinson were also found guilty of murdering David Short and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Cregan, who was cleared of one attempted murder charge, reportedly smiled and shook hands with other defendants after the verdicts were announced.

The trial that began in February was heavily monitored, including daily checks of Cregan’s false eye, which he said he lost during a fight in Thailand. 

During the trial around 150 officers guarded the surrounding streets, while two snipers kept watch from the roof.

Chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, Ian Hanson, told the BBC that Cregan could “rot in hell”.

“Dale Cregan wanted to be a big man, a hero. He has completely failed to become anything like that. Contrast that with what Nicola and Fiona leave us. Their legacy is one of decency, humanity, compassion and public service and they will never be forgotten.”

Sarah Francis