Tragedy of PC who found Cregan victims
A FORMER policeman who was haunted by the murders of two female colleagues by gangster Dale Cregan has been found dead.
Andy Summerscales’ body was found in a park near his home. He had apparently changed the profile picture on his Facebook page to an image of the Grim Reaper.
Detectives say there are no suspicious circumstances.
One colleague commented: “It looks like Cregan is now responsible for the deaths of three police officers.”
In 2012 Mr Summerscales was first on the scene after Cregan lured PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, to their deaths in Tameside, Greater Manchester, by making a false burglary report.
The one-eyed gangland fugitive shot them dead before detonating a hand grenade.
Cregan, 32, who was wanted for the murders of two underworld rivals, was later jailed for life without parole.
Just four hours before the two officers were killed, Mr Summerscales had chatted to PC Hughes after they attended a morning briefing together.
His Facebook postings and Twitter messages reveal a man who was haunted by the senseless killings of his friends.
After their funerals, he wrote on Facebook: “Emotional and traumatic times culminating with the honour and privilege of helping lay my friends to rest.” In November 2013, he wrote: “Memories fade but the scars still linger.”
On the second anniversary of their murders, he posted a picture of their graves. Four weeks ago, the Grim Reaper image appeared on his profile.
The 46-year-old left Greater Manchester Police in November last year. His body was found in Cheetham Park, Stalybridge, Manchester, at around 7.20am on Tuesday.
The force’s Inspector Jim Jones tweeted: “Words can’t describe what PC Andy Summerscales and his colleagues witnessed four years ago and images he’s had to live with.”