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MONSTER IN MOURNING
Dale Cregan’s dad dies a day before he was due to visit one-eyed killer 12 years on from horrific murders of two cops
A police officer took his own life after finding the bodies of Cregan's copper victims
COP killer Dale Cregan's dad has died - a day before he was due to visit his son for the first time in six years.
Paul Cregan - also known as Paul Wilson - suffered a cardiac arrest while in a shop in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Greater Manchester, yesterday morning.
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The furniture maker had been due to visit his cop killer son for the first time in six years.
Cregan, 41, was handed a whole life sentence in 2013 for the murder of police officers Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, in September 2012.
He was also convicted of the murders of gangland rival Mark Short, 23, who was shot dead at a pub in Droylsden in May 2012, and his dad David Short, 46.
He is believed to be currently housed in high security Ashworth hospital.
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A source said: “Cregan will be devastated. His mum and dad split up years ago but while Dale was very close to his mum Anita, he always had a lot of respect for his dad.
“His dad was very clear with him that what he did was wrong but he still loved him. They hadn’t seen each other for years but Dale was looking forward to his visit.”
After splitting with Dale’s mum Anita, Paul married a former Greater Manchester Police officer called Debbie.
Cregan's first taste of crime came when he began drug dealing at a secondary school, which has since closed down.
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He then jetted off to live in Tenerife with his sister for 18 months.
When he returned to the UK, Cregan started collecting firearms - including machine guns - and was dealing cocaine.
Dale Cregan: Cop killer in secure hospital
Cregan, who is known as "One Eye", then went on his killing spree in 2012.
It is not known how Cregan lost his eye but now wears a black glass one as replacement.
On September 18, 2012, coppers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes were sent to Abbey Gardens in Mottram, Longdendale, at around 11am after they received a report of a burglary.
Cops had received the fake 999 call, which was made by Cregan, before dashing to the property.
When they arrived, Bone and Hughes were fired at with 32 gunshots from a Glock pistol in 31 seconds.
An M75 grenade was also thrown in the savage killing of Bone and Hughes.
PC Andrew Summerscales was first on the scene and found his colleagues' bodies following the tragedy.
The officer sought counselling over the horrors he witnessed but had to leave the force in November 2015.
Sadly, just one year later, Summerscales sent several 1am goodbye texts and emails to his friends before taking his own life.
He was found dead near his home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, on August 30.
Once Cregan was arrested, police discovered he was also responsible for 23-year-old Mark Short's murder.
Short was shot dead in the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden on May 25, 2012.
Cregan went on to kill Short's dad David Short, 46, in a gun and grenade attack at his home in Clayton on August 10, 2012.
He was charged with the four murders and four separate counts of attempted murder - caging him for life.
Timeline of the Cregan murders
May 2012 One-eyed Cregan shot dead gang rival Mark Short, 23, at a pub in Droylsden.
August 2012 Cregan ambushed Mark's dad David Short at his home. He launched into a gun and grenade frenzy killing the 46-year-old.
September 2012 Sick and twisted Cregan made a hoax 999 call to lure two coppers to an address in Mottram, Longdendale, Greater Manchester, before blasting them with 32 bullets in 31 seconds. He also launched a grenade at victims Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes during the horror in September 2012.
February 2013 Cregan was jailed for life after being found guilty of four murders.
March 2019 Cregan's brother Dean Moores was jailed for knifing his sister's ex-boyfriend.
May 2024 Cregan's dad Paul Cregan has died one day before going to visit his son for the first time in six years.
In 2019, Cregan's thug brother Dean Moores knifed his sister's ex-boyfriend.
Ryan Lever was stabbed in the leg after a row as he left a shop in Rochdale.
Moores was jailed for five years and five months after admitting grievous bodily harm.
His mum Anita previously said she was devastated that her two sons were in jail and claims Moores' brutal attack was not premeditated.
She told the : "Dean goes fishing often and had his fishing knife with him.
“He’s not walked about with a knife. He pleaded guilty immediately. He was caught on camera arguing with Ryan.
“Dean’s a family man. He’s really sad that he’s ended up in prison.”
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She added: “As a mother, It’s hard enough having one son in prison and now I have another one inside. I am devastated.
“They’ve not been brought up with guns and knives.”
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123
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