Cop killer Dale Cregan was moved from prison to a hospital in a high-security operation, with a significant police presence during the overnight transfer. The images captured officers outside Aintree University Hospital in Merseyside following his arrival for what seemed to be a scheduled appointment.
Cregan, serving a life sentence for the brutal murders of David Short, his son Mark, and policewomen Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in a gun and grenade attack in 2012, was the focus of attention during this recent hospital visit.
Merseyside Police confirmed their presence at Aintree Hospital on December 1st to provide support during Cregan’s medical appointment. The Ministry of Justice declined to provide any comments regarding the situation.
Previously, Cregan had been taken to Manchester Eye Hospital under armed guard due to an issue with his remaining eye. Although it remains unclear if his recent visit to Aintree was related to the same eye problem, Cregan had previously claimed to have lost his left eye during an altercation in Thailand.
In a revealing report in 2013 by the Manchester Evening News, it was disclosed that a rival criminal gang had placed a £20,000 bounty on Cregan’s remaining good eye. Allegedly, the head of a crime family in southern England had orchestrated the contract, sympathetic to the Shorts, making the reward contingent on the destruction of Cregan’s eye while in prison.
Cregan, who was on the run after the Shorts’ murders, orchestrated a heinous act by luring police officers to a residence under false pretenses and ambushing them. The cold-blooded attack on PCs Nicola and Fiona in Mottram-in Longdendale, Tameside, shocked the nation when Cregan fired 32 shots from his Glock with an extended magazine.
Upon confronting the officers at the door, Cregan shot both in the chest, with their body armor saving their lives. Despite their attempts to flee, PC Hughes was paralyzed after being shot in the back, and PC Bone sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including a fatal one to her heart.
The violent incident on September 18, 2012, left a lasting impact, emphasizing the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.