Expert Reaction: Moors Murderer, Ian Brady, dies

Posted on 16 May 2017

Moors Murderer, Ian Brady, has died at the age of 79 in Ashworth Hospital, a high-security psychiatric unit on Merseyside. Dr Ruth Penfold-Mounce, from the University of York's Department of Sociology, comments on how his death does not signal closure for the 1960s killings.

Dr Penfold-Mounce said: "The death of Ian Brady marks the end of one of the most well known and controversial British serial killers.

"Brady, along with his partner, Myra Hindley, attained 'celebrity' status for the kidnap and murder of children in the 1960s that has lingered through the decades.

"The Moors Murderers encapsulate deep-seated societal fears of the vulnerable being preyed upon, with Brady and Hindley targeting children.

"Interest and horror about the Moors Murders never reached closure largely due to Brady refusing to admit guilt for some of the murders until the 1980s and ultimately never disclosing the location of one of the victims, Keith Bennett. Brady took this secret to the grave.

"Fascination with him and the murders lingers as this was one of the first serial crimes that was presented in detail by the media. Brady successfully courted media and public interest in him and his crimes long after he was sentenced, appearing to enjoy the attention from the public, his victims families and the media.

"Brady was a killer who refused to be ignored."