Priest says locals knew about Shipman

Father Denis Maher wants action

A police chaplain who counselled those involved in the case of serial murderer Harold Shipman, says the doctor's killings could have been discovered earlier if local fears were investigated properly.

Father Denis Maher, from St Paul's Church, in Hyde, Greater Manchester, says people there knew something was wrong before Shipman ever hit the headlines.

He says the local community feel let down by the police and health authority, believing its concerns were not taken seriously.

And he backed demands for action following two reports into the investigation of the mass murderer.

Many people lost their lives - we are not talking about a bit of vandalism but mass murder. Father Denis Maher

Dame Janet Smith, the judge leading the investigation of the Manchester GP, has criticised the initial police investigation into his killings, and called for a reform of the coroners' system.

Father Maher said: "It's not really surprising what came out but it still doesn't answer all of the questions people here have.

"Nobody seemed to listen to people here in Hyde for the best part of 20 years. If people had sat up and took notice sooner I am sure he wouldn't have got away with it for so long."

He added: "Many people lost their lives - we are not talking about a bit of vandalism but mass murder."

Father Maher says the community will only be satisfied when the report's recommendations are put into practice.

"There was a major loss of confidence in the beginning and it will take time to rebuild this," he said.

"Dame Smith has done very well, she was very thorough in her report. It pointed the finger where it needed to be pointed but people need to see action being taken.

"You can't undo the past but you can do something about the present to guarantee it doesn't happen in the future."