Cregan changes plea to admit murders of two GMP officers

Dale Cregan, the man accused of murdering Greater Manchester Police officers Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, has changed his plea to guilty.

Cregan, 29, appearing at Preston Crown Court, had originally denied committing the murders, which occurred on September 18, 2012. Cregan is also accused of the murder of father and son Mark Short, 23, and David Short, 46, in separate attacks in May and August last year, as well as four attempted murders, offences he denies.

PCs Bone and Hughes were killed as they attended a routine call-out to a house in Mottram, Greater Manchester. The officers were armed only with a single Taser.

On arriving at the property, they were attacked by Cregan who shot them repeatedly, firing 32 bullets in less than 31 seconds, before throwing a grenade. He was arrested a short time after, handing himself into Hyde Police Station.

There had been a £50,000 reward for information leading to Cregan’s arrest following the deaths of David and Mark Short.

He is standing trial with nine alleged associates who are accused of crimes ranging from murder and attempted murder to firearms offences and assisting an offender.

Cregan was the only person charged with the murders of PCs Bone and Hughes.