Britain’s ‘forgotten’ serial killer Patrick Mackay – who brutally hacked a priest and grandmother to death with an axe – to be grilled by Parole Board chiefs to see if he is ‘safe’ to be freed from jail

• Patrick Mackay, known as the ‘Devil’s Disciple’, has spent 47 years in prison
• He was convicted for three killings but previously admitted to eight more 

‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer Patrick Mackay will be grilled in a parole hearing about eight murders he initially confessed to but later retracted before it is decided if he should be freed.

Mackay, 70, has spent 47 years in prison for three killings, but previously admitted to eight more.

The serial killer then retracted his admissions over the eight murders but must now convince a Parole Board that he was lying about those initial confessions.

The Kent and Essex killer, who split Catholic priest Anthony Crean’s head in half with an axe in March 1975, is considered to be Britain’s longest-serving prisoner.

Mackay has been told he will have two days to discuss his case with the Parole Board, one day more than is usually given to convicted murderers.

‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer Patrick Mackay (pictured) will be grilled in a parole hearing about eight murders he initially confessed to but later retracted before it is decided if he should be freed

Mackay, 70, has spent 47 years in prison for three murders, but previously admitted to eight more

Speaking about the upcoming case with the Parole Board, a source told The Mirror: ‘The notoriety of Patrick Mackay and his historic ‘confessions’ to unsolved murders warrants this level of attention.

‘The board will look beyond Mackay’s behaviour in prison, any remorse, and will focus on his prior criminal history.

‘This obviously includes the three murders he was jailed for, but there will be questions on any other crimes he committed.

‘Mackay will have to convince the panel his ‘confession’ to other murders was the ramblings of a man who was mentally ill at the time.’

The serial killer is reportedly optimistic about his prospect of being freed. He was said to be furious after he learnt that his Parole Hearing, intended to be last year, had been put on hold and that he wouldn’t be out in time for Christmas.

The axe murderer is also considered by some to be a ‘model prisoner’.

A prison source told The Mirror last year: ‘He really believes he finally has a chance to be released. He’s seen as a model prisoner.

‘In theory, there’s little reason to keep him behind bars, but it will be a strong board who approve his release – the public will be outraged.’

Daily Mail front page November 1975

Mackay killed Father Anthony Crean (pictured) in a frenzied attack using his fists, a knife and an axe in the village of Shorne, Kent

Mackay was born in 1952 and raised in an abusive household where he was regularly beaten by his alcoholic father.

At a young age he started committing criminal acts including arson, animal cruelty, and theft of garden gnomes.

Medical professionals identified that Mackay had psychopathic tendencies and he was sectioned at the age of 16. He was then released four years later.

After his release, Mackay developed a fascination with Nazism and started calling himself ‘Franklin Bollvolt the First’. He filled his flat with Nazi memorabilia.

Mackay’s first identified victim was 87-year-old frail widow Isabella Griffith. He befriended the pensioner before strangling and stabbing at her home in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea in 1974.

Thirteen months later, he killed Adele Price at her home in Lowndes Square, Kensington. Having entered the property after asking Ms Price for a glass of water, Mackay then passed her granddaughter on the way out without knowing.

Mackay then killed Father Anthony Crean in a frenzied attack using his fists, a knife and an axe in the village of Shorne, Kent, near the home of his own mother. The 63-year-old priest’s mutilated body was left floating in a bath full of bloody water.

The serial killer was arrested two days later after a police officer remembered a previous incident that occurred some months earlier in which Mackay was arrested for stealing a £30 check from the priest. As with Ms Griffith, he befriended Father Anthony before breaking into his home.

Mackay’s fingerprints were taken upon his arrest and they were found to match the scene at Ms Price’s murder.

The serial killer initially confessed to the three killings, but then told police he had killed eight more dating back to 1973 – many of them unsolved murders.

Mackay confessed to a series of unsolved murders including 17-year-old Heiddi Mnilk (left) and cafe owner Ivy Davies (right)

Grandmother Adele Price, 89 (left), was strangled in Kensington, and widow Isabella Griffiths (right), 87, was murdered in Chelsea

Murder victims Stephanie Britton (left) and her four-year-old grandson Christopher Martin (right). Mackay admitted to killing them before retracting his confession

Mackay said his first murder was 17-year-old German au pair Heidi Mnilk in 1973, who he stabbed on a train and then threw out the door of a tram in South London.

Mackay also admitted to killing an unidentified homeless man by pushing him into the Thames a year later. The body was never found.

He said he killed Stephanie Britton, 57,  and her 4-year-old grandson Christopher Martin in January 1974. The serial killer then claimed he killed Frank Goodman later that year, saying he kicked him to death. Mackay also claimed he killed Sarah Rodmell, 92, in Hackney in December 1974; cafe owner Ivy Davies, 48, in Southend in 1975; and Mary Hynes in Kentish Town in 1974.

Mackay withdrew the eight confessions before facing trial.

In 1975, he was convicted of the manslaughter of Adele Price, Isabella Griffith and Father Anthony Crean.

Although he was charged with five counts of murder, Mackay’s convictions were only for three counts of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

The other two cases – the killing of Frank Goodman and Mary Hynes – were allowed to lie on file as there was insufficient evidence. 

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