A RELATIVE of the three children murdered by the 'Monster of Worcester' has said their killer should remain in jail until he dies.

In 1973 David McGreavy, dubbed the 'Monster of Worcester', slaughtered four year old Paul Ralph, and his sisters Dawn, two, and Samantha, nine months, then impaled their bodies on spiked garden railings in the city's Gillam Street.

McGreavy, a family friend and lodger of parents Clive and Dorothy Ralph, had been left to babysit on the night of the murders.

Earlier this week, we reported how McGreavy could be released from prison as he is again being considered for parole.

John Nicholls, cousin of the murdered children's dad Clive Ralph, told the Worcester News the horrific events of April 1973 were still "fresh" in his mind.

The 69-year-old said: "My opinion is he should never be let out. He shouldn't be allowed any kind of freedom. To me, a life sentence should be life.

"How can you forget something like that that happened? It is as fresh in my mind today as it was 44 years ago. What happened I will remember it to the day I die."

At the time of the murders Mr Nicholls was working a night shift at a metal casting works on Droitwich Road.

The dad-of-two remembered: "It must have been about three or four in the morning and a guy came in and said: 'Do you know the news? Three kids have been murdered.' I didn't put two and two together until later that morning."

Paul had been strangled, Dawn was found with her throat cut, and Samantha died from a compound fracture to the skull.

He was jailed for life in 1973 but is now being considered for parole.

Mr Nicholls, who moved to Canada in 1976, said: "What kind of justice is there if this guy is let out to roam the streets? I'm not saying he is ever going to do anything like this again but the thing is he needs to pay for the crime he committed.

"I do not think he should be let out. He should stay in jail until he dies."

Shocked Worcester residents have reacted in disgust to the news of McGreavy's possible release.

The Parole Board has confirmed that McGreavy's case is under consideration.

A spokesman added: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board is currently considering the parole review for David McGreavy.

"At this time, we have not received the panel's decision. We are unable to comment further on the details of this case."