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In the tenth and final episode of British Murders Season 6, I tell the story of Ian O'Callaghan.
On January 6, 1994, Ian O'Callaghan attacked, sexually assaulted, murdered and mutilated 66-year-old widow and grandma Shirley Leach at Bury Interchange.
In September 2001, Ian exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl before raping her a few days later.
He remained a free man until February 2006, when he was arrested for drink-driving. His DNA was taken and matched a blood sample from the crime scene in 1994.
He was handed a life sentence in 2006 with a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of Shirley Leach, with a 16-year concurrent sentence handed to him in 2016 for the rape of the 11-year-old after she came forward and informed the police of what had happened.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
My recording equipment:
Shure SM7B Vocal Microphone
Cloud Microphone Cloudlifter CL1
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface
Rode PSA-1 Professional Studio Boom Arm
Recorded in:
Hindenberg PRO
Edited in:
DaVinci Resolve 18
References:
Britton, P. (2013, January 18). Ex-soldier guilty of Shirley Leach murder. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ex-soldier-guilty-of-shirley-leach-murder-1049300
Britton, P. (2019, January 6). The frail gran savaged by a monster in a bus station toilet: The murder of Shirley Leach 25 years on. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ian-ocallaghan-shirley-leach-bury-15632627
#Catch my granny’s killer’ appeal. (1994, January 10). Evening Post, 7.
George, T. (2019, September 7). A trip to the toilet at Bury Interchange cost Shirley Leach her life - the horrific murder that shook a town and saw a sadistic killer evade police for more than a decade. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ian-ocallaghan-shirley-leach-jailed-16875285
Grandson in plea to catch killer. (1994, January 11). The Journal, 5.
Harper, P. (2019, September 6). Shirley Leach killer Ian O’Callaghan jailed for raping girl. Metro. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/06/bus-driver-raped-girl-11-while-evading-police-over-brutal-murder-10698638/
Horrific murder which stunned a town. (2013, January 18). Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/horrific-murder-which-stunned-a-town-1049301
Hunt continues for brutal murderer. (2001, July 28). The Bolton News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6017325.hunt-continues-for-brutal-murderer/
Killer trapped by DNA 12 years on. (2013, January 18). Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/killer-trapped-by-dna-12-years-1049302
Man jailed for bus station murder. (2006, November 30). BBC News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/6159525.stm
Relief after killer’s conviction. (2006, November 30). BBC News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6159959.stm
Sex Attacker kills stranded widow, 66. (1994, January 8). Birmingham Evening Mail, 2.
Shirley’s killer still at large. (2004, January 9). Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5863246.shirleys-killer-still-large/
Stalker, J. (1999, July 18). THE GARROTTED GRANNY KILLED BECAUSE SHE MISSED A BUS. The Sunday People, 34–35.
Unsolved murder is a living nightmare. (1998, January 15). Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6162736.unsolved-murder-living-nightmare/
Walker, A., & Rucki, A. (2019, September 6). He’ll probably die behind bars. What a judge told brutal sex killer who has finally been convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ian-ocallaghan-sentenced-16-years-16876862
Walker, A., & Smith, S. (2019, September 6). Sex beast who murdered 66-year-old Shirley Leach at Bury bus station is finally convicted of raping an 11-year-old who “bottled it up” for years. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/sex-beast-who-murdered-66-16874586
