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Dale Cregan told psychiatrist he killed four people, court hears Dale Cregan told psychiatrist he killed four people, court hears
(about 7 hours later)
One-eyed killer Dale Cregan admitted to a psychiatrist that he killed a father and son before going on to murder two police officers, a court has heard . Dale Cregan admitted to a psychiatrist that he killed a father and son before going on to murder two police officers, a court heard on Thursday.
Cregan, 29, has admitted the murder of police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, in September last year, but is on trial for the murders of David and Mark Short in the months before, which he denies. Cregan, 29, has admitted the murder of PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, in September last year, but is on trial for the murders of David and Mark Short in the months before, which he denies.
A consultant forensic psychiatrist told Preston crown court of statements made by Cregan during three interviews while he was on remand in HMP Manchester. A consultant forensic psychiatrist told Preston crown court that Cregan admitted all four killings during interviews that took place while he was on remand at HMP Manchester. Dr James Collins said Cregan told him he had had "the best sleep of my life" after the murder of David Short. Cregan said he was paranoid the Short family were trying to kill him and he had "fantasies" about murdering David Short.
In one interview, Cregan allegedly admitted all four killings and said he had "the best sleep of my life" after the brutal murder of David Short. Cregan is accused of shooting David Short before tossing a hand grenade at him, in Clayton, east Manchester, months after shooting dead Short's son Mark in an attack on the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden last May.
Cregan also said he was a drug dealer who earned up to £20,000 a week, he was paranoid that the Short family were trying to kill him and he had fantasies about murdering David Short. After months on the run Cregan lured PC Hughes, 23, and PC Bone, 32, with a bogus burglary report before he opened fire on the unarmed officers, then using his "calling card" by throwing a hand grenade at them.
Cregan is accused of shooting David Short before tossing a hand grenade at him, blowing his body apart in Clayton, east Manchester, just months after shooting dead his son, Mark, in an attack on the Cotton Tree Pub in Droylsden, Manchester, on 25 May last year. Collins told the jury he interviewed Cregan three times in January this year before the trial.
After months on the run, Cregan lured Hughes, 23, and Bone, 32, with a bogus burglary report before he opened fire on the unarmed and unsuspecting officers, then using his "calling card" by throwing a hand grenade at the stricken victims. He said Cregan told him David Short had threatened to rape his sister and his son and he was worried the Short family would also harm his other family.
Dr James Collins, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, told the jury he interviewed Cregan three times in January this year ahead of the trial. Collins, quoting from notes he made of the interviews, said Cregan told him: "I used to get visions of them killing my son, perhaps by a stray bullet. I was also worried about my mother and brother. Since I lost my eye it's been worse. I thought if I killed David Short all these thoughts would go away. I did feel better after killing him. I felt better for a couple of days but all the thoughts came back."
He said Cregan told him David Short had threatened to rape his sister and his son and he was worried the Short family would also harm other family members. Nicholas Clarke QC, prosecuting, asked the witness: "Did you specifically ask him about the offences he is charged with?"
Collins, quoting Cregan from notes he made of the interviews, said: "I used to get visions of them killing my son, perhaps by a stray bullet. I was also worried about my mother and brother. Collins replied: "He told me that he killed two police officers and David Short and he also killed Mark Short."
"Since I lost my eye it's been worse. Cregan told the psychiatrist that on the day Mark Short was murdered he had been to the gym then went on to drink 10 bottles of Peroni in a pub and took some cocaine. He described going into the Cotton Tree Pub and shooting John Short, Michael Belcher, also a member of the Short family, and Mark Short – but David Short was in the toilet when he entered the pub.
"I thought if I killed David Short I thought all these thoughts would go away. Mark Short was blasted in the neck and died in his father's arms.
"I did feel better after killing him. I felt better for a couple of days but all the thoughts came back. Cregan told Collins: "David Short had previously told me if I killed him, Mark and John would kill me.
"The paranoia was so bad I used to just sit in the house on my own. "I was not really bothered about the others. I just wanted to kill David Short.
"David Short was the biggest threat. I felt quite good about myself when I killed him." "The night I shot David Short I had the best sleep of my life."
Cregan added: "After I killed Mark Short, [David Short] said he would rape my son, he said he would set him on fire.
"He threatened my whole family. He told me 'The gloves are off'.
"So I was always going to kill him."
Cregan told the psychiatrist that, as a youngster, he would have fist fights with the nephews of David Short, who came into his neighbourhood and tried to bully people.
Cregan said he began dealing cocaine at the age of 22, making £20,000 a week. Cregan said the problem with the Short family was not a turf war over drugs because "as far as he knew" they did not deal drugs.
The jury heard that Cregan denied involvement in an incident when David Short was knocked off his motorbike and had his throat cut.
But he did admit confronting him in an earlier incident and firing a gun five times at his enemy – but the weapon was loaded with blank cartridges.
He denies the Short murders and the attempted murder of the three others injured in the pub along with causing an explosion and the attempted murder of Sharon Hark in a separate attack minutes after the murder of David Short.
The trial continues.