A man appeared in court today accused of four murders, including the shooting and grenade attack that killed two policewomen in Manchester.
Dale Cregan spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth to the courtroom at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court. Judge Jonathan Taaffe then read out the eight charges the defendant faces, including that of murdering the two officers.
Fiona Bone (32) and Nicola Hughes (23) described as “wonderful human beings” and dedicated police officers, died in Hattersley, Tameside, on Tuesday morning. They were attacked with a gun and grenade minutes after they had called to a house to investigate a burglary report.
Cregan was arrested a short time later after walking into Hyde Police Station.
The defendant, wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, was brought into court at 10.08am for the hearing, which lasted just two minutes at the court. The defendant, who has lost one eye, was brought into the secure dock flanked by four police officers. Two more officers dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with machine guns stood outside the dock.
Cregan also faced charges of murdering father and son David and Mark Short earlier this year and four attempted murders.
He is accused of killing Mark Short at the Cotton Tree Inn on May 25th and his father, David, at his home in Manchester on August 10th. Cregan (29) also faces four charges of attempted murder, three in relation to the shooting in the Cotton Tree Inn.
Greater Manchester Police have been given more time to question a man (28), named by sources as Stephen Garvey, who has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the killings of Ms Bone and Ms Hughes. This is due to expire at 9.15am tomorrow.
Following the deaths of the officers the Greater Manchester force has received more than 30,000 messages on its online book of condolence, more than 20,000 have been posted on the force’s Facebook page and more than 1.3 million people have viewed the tribute to the officers on Facebook.
Police from across the country have also offered to provide cover so officers can attend the funerals of the two officers.
A man (22), from Netherley, Merseyside, was bailed last night after he was arrested on Wednesday for setting up a Facebook page lauding Cregan as a “legend”.
PA