It was just an ordinary day but by the end of it two much-loved colleagues were dead

EX-COP ON DALE CREGAN

He raced to the scene to find PCS Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone dying in the street – victims of one-eyed monster Dale Cregan.

The warped fugitive had lured police with a hoax burglary call.

And in a crime that shocked the nation he executed Nicola, 23, and Fiona, 32, in cold blood as they approached his lair. He fired 32 shots from a Glock pistol and hurled a grenade at the pair.

Today – UK National Police Memorial Day, honouring officers who die in the line of duty – Julian, 52, tells of his anguish as he came across the stricken pair.

And in a new book he reveals how the two officers had asked to go on patrol together that day so that they could talk about plans for a staff Christmas party.

It was September 18, 2012, that Cregan’s crimes shook Greater Manchester Police to the core.

NIGHTMARE

Julian says in his book Down The Line: “The day started normally when all of a sudden there was an alarming call on our personal radios that there had been gunshots and officers down.

“We sped off to assist. We got to Hyde to be confronted with our worst nightmare.

“Paramedics were already working on Nicola and Fiona, trying to keep them alive.

“I overheard a senior paramedic say that one of the officers hadn’t made it and it’s highly unlikely the other will survive.

“The police force is one big family and we all go through the pain when we hear such words. It was a devastating blow.

“Orders were given to clear the area, but I thought ‘I’m going nowhere’ so offered to start the door-to-door enquiries.

“I could already see the stress and horror on the faces of colleagues leaving the scene.”

Julian told how it was six hours before many officers discovered Nicola and Fiona had died.

He had arrived back at Ashtonunder-lyne station before being called to an emergency meeting.

Julian said: “I went upstairs and there was a team ready to inform everyone of the situation. I saw our chief superintendent, the entire team that worked with Fiona and Nicola and several supervisors.

“There was total silence in the room. The chief superintendent and the deputy chief constable were stood together

Police pal in tears at Fiona Bone’s funeral waiting to tell us what they knew. Neither mentioned the situation of Fiona and Nicola. Suddenly one of the constables shouted ‘Sir, how are Nicola and Fiona? Are they going to be all right?’ Wow... they didn’t know. “The chief superintendent told them calmly that Nicola and Fiona were dead.” Colleagues were left in anguish – but determined to see justice done.

Gloating Cregan handed himself in– allegedly saying he was sorry he killed two women police officers as he had wanted to kill men.

A stash of grenades was later recovered, proof that Cregan was capable of yet more mayhem.

He initially denied murdering the officers and two gangland rivals, but changed his plea to guilty and is serving life. Julian added: “Nicola and Fiona were tasked to go to a suspected burglary and had their lives taken away from them when Cregan shot them in cold blood.

“Nicola and Fiona weren’t actually meant to be working together that day.

“It was meant to be another police officer and one of the girls, but they got together because they were working out the details of the Christmas party.

“They wanted to work out how much to put in the kitty every week, so asked to go together.

“The following weeks were surreal and it was a horrible time, although it was amazing the way everyone came together to help Manchester Police. There were

Paramedic said one officer had died and second was unlikely to survive... it was devastating JULIAN BRODDLE ONE OF FIRST COPS ON SCENE OF MURDERS