'He should remain behind bars' - widespread public anger after city child killer David McGreavy set for release

David McGreavy was dubbed the 'Monster of Worcester' after murdering three children; Paul Ralph, four, sister Dawn, two, and nine-month-old Samantha, at their home in Gillam Street, Worcester, in 1973.

However, the parole board confirmed yesterday that McGreavy, now 67, is set to be released following an oral hearing.

How we reported the news yesterday

The children's mother has said she feels 'betrayed' and Worcester MP Robin Walker says he will write to the parole board to say he believes McGreavy is a danger to the public and should not be released.

Their mother Elsie Urry has told The Sun she had "begged" that McGreavy, who is now in his late 60s, stay locked up, telling the paper "I was told he’d never go free”, adding: “He put my babies on spikes for God’s sake — he mutilated them and they died in agony.

"Despite begging them to keep him locked up, I have now finally been betrayed,” she said.

Yesterday, people living in Gillam Street spoke out, unanimously agreeing he should not be released, and certainly not allowed to return to the city.

Jules Bemand, who moved to the street earlier this year, said: "When I moved here, everyone said about what happened.

"Its a horrific story - it wouldn't be a good thing (for him to be let out of jail).

"If it was my children you would never want him to be released."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "He could come back to this street - I'm not agreeable for him to come out of prison, not after what he did.

"What he did is insane, the man is a psychopath."

Judy Lessemun, who lived in the road at the time of the murders, has previously told the Worcester News that she had always said he should have received three life sentences to keep him locked up.

Karen Robinson, born in Gillam Street and who was seven at the time, called it a horrendous crime for which he should never be released.

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: "There is obviously a concern locally so the public’s safety needs to be taken into account.

"It’s a case people feel extremely strongly about, given the horrific nature. I do not believe David McGreavy should be released - a life’s sentence should mean life.”

Angry readers flocked to the Worcester News's facebook page when the news broke, and echoed the calls.

John Harding said: "He should never be released," while Tina Pincott said: "Sorry I'm all for second chances but not with this - the man is sick."

Why will he be released?

A DOCUMENT from the Parole Board about McGreavy’s case said that over his 45 years in custody, McGreavy has changed “considerably.”

It added: “He has developed self-control, as well as a considerable understanding of the problems that he has had and what caused them.

“The psychologist identified a number of factors which make it less likely that Mr McGreavy will reoffend in future.

“These included his improved self-control and the fact that Mr McGreavy has learnt to remain calm in stressful situations.”

The Parole Board said: “Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release.

“The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.”

Could David McGreavy return to the city?

THE Parole Board has refused to confirm whether McGreavy will be able to return to Worcester upon his release.

In 1996, we reported how the Home Office was considering banning him from ever setting foot in the city again, if he was released from jail.

At the time, Bob Rees, the police officer who discovered the bodies, said: "they must not let him out, not even with the ban".

But the Parole Board has now told the paper it "cannot disclose the details of a prisoner’s licence conditions", so there is uncertainty if that rule will apply.

Former city MP Mike Foster tweeted: "He should remain behind bars, but if released, must never be allowed to set foot in Worcester again. His heinous crime can never be forgotten."

On the Worcester News facebook page, reader Richard Laura added: "Seriously losing faith in our justice system. Really hope he doesn’t come back to Worcester."

The crime that shocked the city

McGreavy was just 21 when he murdered the siblings Paul Ralph, aged 4, and his sisters Dawn, aged 2, and Samantha, who was just nine months old at the time.

He was a family friend and lodger at the Worcester home of Elsie (who is also known as Dorothy) and then husband Clive Ralph and babysat their children for two years until the brutal murders.

On April 13, 1973 the couple had left him to babysit for the night. When they returned home, they discovered the house in a mess and blood everywhere.

At 1.20am, a police officer found the bodies of the three children impaled on some metal-spiked garden railings between gardens.

Paul had been strangled, Dawn was found with her throat cut, and Samantha was beaten to death.

McGreavy was sentenced to life for the murders with a minimum term of 20 years, after claiming he killed the children because one of them would not stop crying.

He has been nicknamed “The Real Friday the 13th Killer” in addition to “The Monster of Worcester” for his offences.

Crime history: Three children killed in the most horrific murders Worcester has ever seen