‘I’m surprised how I feel’: Son of Yorkshire Ripper victim speaks about killer's death

The son of one of the Yorkshire Ripper’s victims has spoken about his death.
By Claire Lewis
Published 13th Nov 2020, 11:10 BST
Updated 13th Nov 2020, 11:11 BST
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Richard McCann, the son of Peter Sutcliffe’s first recognised victim, Wilma McCann, told BBC Breakfast: “I’m surprised how I feel this morning.

“It brings me some degree of closure, not that I wished him dead, far from it.

File photo dated 20/2/1981 of Bradford lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe, under a blanket, arriving at Dewsbury Magistrates Court charged with the murder of 13 women and attempted murder of seven others. Sutcliffe, known as The Yorkshire Ripper serial killer, has died at University Hospital of North Durham after being transferred there from maximum security HMP Frankland, where he was an inmate. - PAFile photo dated 20/2/1981 of Bradford lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe, under a blanket, arriving at Dewsbury Magistrates Court charged with the murder of 13 women and attempted murder of seven others. Sutcliffe, known as The Yorkshire Ripper serial killer, has died at University Hospital of North Durham after being transferred there from maximum security HMP Frankland, where he was an inmate. - PA
File photo dated 20/2/1981 of Bradford lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe, under a blanket, arriving at Dewsbury Magistrates Court charged with the murder of 13 women and attempted murder of seven others. Sutcliffe, known as The Yorkshire Ripper serial killer, has died at University Hospital of North Durham after being transferred there from maximum security HMP Frankland, where he was an inmate. - PA
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“Every time we hear a news story about him, and my mum’s photo is often shown, it’s just another reminder of what he did.

“One positive to come from this is that we’ll hear much less about him and no more reminders about what happened all those years ago.”

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Sutcliffe, aged 74, died in the early hours of this morning after contracting coronavirus.

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He led a reign of terror in the north of England for five years when he killed 13 women and attempted to murder seven others.

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His killing spree finally came to an end when he was arrested in Sheffield in 1981 after being caught in a car with false number plates.

Sutcliffe spent most of his sentence locked up in Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital before being transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham in 2016.

He died in hospital in Durham at around 1am today.

The Sun quoted a source as saying: “No tears were shed. His death was as pitiful as the vile life he had lived.”

A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Frankland prisoner Peter Coonan (born Sutcliffe) died in hospital on November 13. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.