Killer David McGreavy who hung child bodies on a fence cleared for release

A man who killed three children before hanging their mutilated bodies on a fence outside their home has been cleared for release by the Parole Board.

By The Newsroom Tuesday, 4th December 2018, 1:45 pm Updated Tuesday, 4th December 2018, 4:45 pm

David McGreavy killed Paul Ralph, four, and his sisters Dawn, two, and nine-month-old Samantha in their Worcester home.

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

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McGreavy, a family friend and lodger, then impaled their bodies on the spiked garden railings of a house in Gillam Street, Rainbow Hill.

David McGreavy who killed three children before hanging their mutilated bodies on a fence outside their home. Picture: PA

He claimed he killed the children because one of them would not stop crying, and was sentenced to life for the murders in 1973.

The Parole Board confirmed that a panel directed his release following an oral hearing.

The children’s mother Elsie Urry, who has also been known as Dorothy, told The Sun: “What this animal did to my children was every bit as bad as what the Moors Murderers did.

“But Ian Brady and Myra Hindley never left prison before they died so why the hell should he?

Ppolice setting up an investigation centre in the street, near the house where three young children were found impaled on garden railing in their Worcester home. Picture: PA Wire

“He put my babies on spikes for God’s sake - he mutilated them and they died in agony.

“I wanted him dead and to -suffer like they had but was reassured after his trial that his crime was so terrible he would never walk free again.

“But despite begging them to keep him locked up, I have now finally been betrayed.”

A tent erected by police hides part of the iron fence where the bodies of three young children were found in their Worcester home. Picture: PA Wire

A document from the Parole Board about McGreavy’s case referred to a victim personal statement from the victims’ mother, “setting out the devastating effect that these deaths had on her and still do have”.

The document said that over the 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.

“He has also shown himself to be compliant and co-operative with authority, which suggests that he will comply with licence conditions.

“A network of supportive friends in the community was also identified as a protective factor.”

The Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of David McGreavy following an oral hearing.

“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.