Cop killer’s £311k aid
COP killer Dale Cregan has had almost £ 311,000 in taxpayer-funded legal aid.
Documents released under Freedom of Information rules reveal the one-eyed 35-year-old racked up huge bills for solicitors and barristers in his murder trial.
And since his 2013 jailing he got cash for lawyers in “mental health” battles.
Earlier this year, ex-jail officer Neil Samworth alleged that Cregan faked mental health woes to get moved to a “cushy” maximum security hospital.
The killer spent five years at Ashworth psychiatric unit in Merseyside before he was hauled back to jail after boasting of his workouts and playing snooker.
It has emerged he got handouts for legal advice over his mental health on at least two occasions.
Cregan was on the run for two murders when he killed Greater Manchester Police’s Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32.
Nicola’s father Bryn said: “I don’t see why legal aid should meet that cost. He’s bound to have mental health issues. So what?”
SPRIGHTLY Mark Pembroke has delivered newspapers by bicycle in Swanage, Dorset, for the last 30 years – and won’t
quit despite being 83. DETECTIVES searching for the body of British backpacker Grace Millane were last night scouring a car for clues.
The vehicle was seized after a 26-year-old suspect was arrested in Auckland, New Zealand.
Police said the man will be charged with murder and will appear in court tomorrow.
Grace, 22, from Wickford, Essex, was last seen on CCTV going into a hotel in Auckland with a man last Saturday.
She was earlier seen dressed for a night out as she left Andy’s Burgers & Bar, in the Sky City casino complex at 7.15pm.
She had been travelling alone in New Zealand for two weeks after graduating from the University of Lincoln earlier this year.
Det Insp Scott Beard said: “Sadly the evidence we have gathered to this point of the inquiry has established that this is a homicide.
“Grace’s family has been advised of this development and they are devastated. The man is still being spoken to at this point.”
Meeting
He added: “We still do not know where Grace is. We are determined to find her and return her to her family”.
Grace was l ast seen on Saturday night at the £ 130- anight Citylife hotel, just 300 yards from a hostel where she was staying.
Some of her possessions were found at the £10-a-night Base Backpackers hostel.
On the day of her disappearance she told pals at the hostel, “I’m going to see a friend”.
She had messaged others saying she was meeting a guy.
Her dad David, 60, a millionaire property developer, has flown to New Zealand to make an emotional appeal for witnesses.
Last night Grace’s brother Declan tweeted a picture of his sister at her graduation with the words: “I love you.”