Mother expresses fury as ‘Monster of Worcester’ who killed her three children and impaled their bodies on railings is freed from prison

A mother has expressed outrage after she was informed that the ‘monster’ who killed her three children has regained his freedom.

David McGreavy, 67, tagged ‘Monster of Worcester’, murdered Paul Ralph, four, and his sisters Dawn, two, and nine-month-old Samantha at their home in Worcester in 1973, before impaling their mutilated bodies on a fence outside their home.

Paul had been strangled, Dawn was found with her throat cut, and Samantha died from a compound fracture to the skull.

He was sentenced to life in prison but has now been released from prison after 46 years in jail.

When the children’s mother Elsie Urry was told by Victim Support this morning that her childrens’ killer has been freed from jail, she said: “And also he’s took my life really.”

Elsy Urry had been able to put forward suggestions on the conditions of her childrens’ murderer upon release. The exclusion zones imposed on him were extended after her input.

Ms Urry, also known as Dorothy, told BBC Hereford and Worcester: “It gives me a bit of peace of mind but it is still not fair he has been released after what he has done.

“There’s other prisoners that haven’t done half as bad as what he did to my children and they haven’t been put up for parole, so what has made him be able to get (it)?”

Ms Urry added: “They said he was going in for life and then they changed it for (at least) 20 years, but he hasn’t done 60 years. He took three lives, not just one or two; three. And also he’s took my life really.”

She has previously admitted that she “wanted him dead”.

McGreavy, a family friend and lodger at the family’s home in Rainbow Hill, claimed he killed the children because one of them would not stop crying. He was 21 at the time and had been babysitting the children while Ms Urry – then known as Dorothy Ralph – went to work in a pub, while her then husband had been out. 

Conservative MP for Worcester Robin Walker has repeatedly written to successive justice ministers and home secretaries objecting to McGreavy’s release.

He said today after McGreavy’s release: “Frankly, I don’t think someone who carried out such crimes should ever be let out. It is a great shame. I understand there are strict curfew and tag conditions and he is banned from Worcester, and the area in Andover where Ms Urry lives.”

A document from the Parole Board about McGreavy’s case released last year said that during his stay in custody, the killer had changed “considerably”.

It added: “He has developed self-control, as well as a considerable understanding of the problems that he has had and what caused them.

“The psychologist identified a number of factors which make it less likely that Mr McGreavy will reoffend in future.

“These included his improved self-control and the fact that Mr McGreavy has learnt to remain calm in stressful situations.

“He has also shown himself to be compliant and co-operative with authority, which suggests that he will comply with licence conditions. 

“A network of supportive friends in the community was also identified as a protective factor.”

A Parole Board spokesman said today: “We confirm that a panel of the Parole Board directed the release of David McGreavy following an oral hearing in November 2018.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release. 

“The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.

“We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.”