Jump directly to the content
LET HIM ROT

Family’s anguish at claims ‘twisted and evil’ Ian Brady could have his ashes scattered on Saddleworth Moor where he buried his victims

THE family of one of Ian Brady's young victims has revealed their horror at claims he could have his ashes scattered on Saddleworth Moor where he buried those he killed.

Terry West, whose sister Lesley Ann Downey was murdered by Brady and Myra Hindley, said “It is the final act of a twisted, evil man."

 Ian Brady died aged 79 after killing five children between 1963 and 1965
11
Ian Brady died aged 79 after killing five children between 1963 and 1965Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

He spoke out after a senior coroner declared the body of the child killer will not be released until it is promised his ashes will not be scattered across the Moors.

Mr West, 66,  that the rumoured ashes plan was "the final act of a twisted, evil man."

"For the coroner to order this ban must mean Brady ­stipulated his ashes should be scattered on Saddleworth Moor," he said.

"It is a sick, final twist to cause his victims’ families the greatest upset from beyond the grave.”

 Lesley Ann Downey's family are horrified at the thought of Brady's ashes being scattered on the Moors
11
Lesley Ann Downey's family are horrified at the thought of Brady's ashes being scattered on the MoorsCredit: Getty Images

Unrepentant Brady died at the age of 79 on Monday night, with the murderer refusing to tell police where his victim Keith Bennett was buried in his last hours.

But while psychopath Brady, who had been jailed for more than 50 years by the time of his death, had previously indicated he wished to be cremated, senior coroner for Sefton Christopher Sumner has said Brady's body would not be released until assurances had been given that his ashes would not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor.

The coroner confirmed a request had been made for the monster's remains but exactly who asked remains a mystery.


Do you know the mystery person who has requested Brady's body is released? Email [email protected] or call 0207 482 4754


The Moors were used by Brady to bury his victims in shallow graves, with the body of 12-year-old Keith Bennett still not found.

Mr Sumner told the hearing: "Emotions are high, they are bound to be.

"I want to have assurance that when Mr Stewart-Brady is cremated his ashes will not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor.

"I think that's a right and proper moral judgment to make.

"I think it would be offensive if Mr Stewart-Brady's ashes were scattered on Saddleworth Moor."

News of Brady's death has since sparked celebrations from his victim's families - as well as from people calling for the murderer to be buried in an unmarked grave.

 People have shared their disgust at Ian Brady online
11
People have shared their disgust at Ian Brady onlineCredit: Twitter
 People on Twitter have called for Bradys body to be put in an unmarked grave
11
People on Twitter have called for Bradys body to be put in an unmarked graveCredit: Twitter
 The tweets came after the murderer died overnight, refusing to tell police where he had buried one of his victims
11
The tweets came after the murderer died overnight, refusing to tell police where he had buried one of his victimsCredit: Twitter
 As news about Ian Brady's death surfaced, people were quick to slam the murderer
11
As news about Ian Brady's death surfaced, people were quick to slam the murdererCredit: Twitter
 Many people said that the murderer did not deserve a funeral, with it revealed the killer had hoped to be cremated
11
Many people said that the murderer did not deserve a funeral, with it revealed the killer had hoped to be crematedCredit: Twitter

The families of the Moors murderer celebrated his death, saying: "may you rot in f***ing hell" - with others joining the call for Brady to be "thrown to the pigs".

On social media, people shared their horror at Brady, with one writing: "Here's to burying Ian Brady in an unmarked grave in an undisclosed location. #MoorsMurderer".

Another wrote: "I hope he's left to rot in an unmarked grave despicable monster.."

A third wrote: "Hopefully they'll bury the scum in an unmarked grave and then refuse to tell his relatives where it is."

Others seeking revenge for the five children killed by Brady said they hoped he would be buried "somewhere random and don't tell his family where".

Ian Brady's former penpal Cody Lachey had previously revealed that the murderer himself wanted to be cremated and often spoke of the "event" - as he didn't like saying "death".

Speaking in a candid video, the former soldier who claimed to have worked for notorious crime figures said: "This man, right, wanted me to do security at his funeral.

"I said to him, look, if you want, me and the lads will do security at your funeral.

"We'll do security at your funeral so that the media can't get close.

"I was never going to do it, I was never going to do security. He's a sick ****."

He further added that he had not wanted to protect Brady, who was locked up for more than 50 years for his crimes, "in anyway, shape or form".

He revealed: "He said something like - 'you offering to provide certain services?' at what he calls the event. He doesn't like saying death, he says at the event.

"For those who don't know, he's going to be cremated back in Glasgow."

It is unclear where Brady will be buried at this stage, with Good Morning Britain reporting that his body was taken to a mortuary after his death overnight.

 Ian Brady's former penpal Cody Lachey said that the killer wanted to be cremated
11
Ian Brady's former penpal Cody Lachey said that the killer wanted to be cremated
 The victims of Ian Brady: (From left) John Kilbride, 12, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey Edward Evans, 17, Pauline Reade, 16, and 12-year-old Keith Bennett
11
The victims of Ian Brady: (From left) John Kilbride, 12, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey Edward Evans, 17, Pauline Reade, 16, and 12-year-old Keith BennettCredit: PA:Press Association
 Evil . . . Myra Hindley who died in 2002
11
Evil . . . Myra Hindley who died in 2002Credit: Getty Images
 Searchers comb Saddleworth Moor after Brady confessed to the two other murders
11
Searchers comb Saddleworth Moor after Brady confessed to the two other murdersCredit: Getty Images

Brady, 79, who died in high- security Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside, yesterday afternoon, murdered and tortured five children with Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965.

The infamous child murderer, who had been getting round-the-clock care from cancer nurses, reportedly refused to show any remorse for his crimes in the hours before his death.

Brady's own lawyer Robin Makin revealed he would be "very surprised" if the killer left any useful information about where Keith's body was, telling Radio 4: "He did go to the Moors a long time ago and I suspect that if there had been information for him that he could have provided, he would have provided it then."

The family of Keith Bennett have never given up the search through Saddleworth Moor for the young boy, who was snatched while on his way to his grandmother's house on June 16, 1964, with his body never found.

Today the court heard the serial killer had been treated by a palliative care team for the past two weeks because of his deteriorating health.

Mr Howard-Murphy said his feeding tube was removed on May 11.

The hearing was told Brady did not wish to be resuscitated if he suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 6.02pm on Monday.

Topics