JOHN O’SHAUGHNESSY CHESTER CHILD KILLER COULD BE FREED SOON AFTER PAROLE WIN

In a case that has shocked the community of Chester and garnered national attention, John O’Shaughnessy, a man convicted of the heinous rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl, is now on the verge of potentially being released from prison after winning a recent parole hearing.

O’Shaughnessy, aged 56, was responsible for the tragic death of Kayleigh Ward, a young girl who lived in Chester. The details of the crime are particularly disturbing: he lured Kayleigh to a riverbank, where he subjected her to a brutal sexual assault before strangling her with his belt. Following the murder, O’Shaughnessy disposed of her body by throwing it into the River Dee, a decision that led to a nearly two-month-long search before her remains were finally recovered.

The murder occurred in December 1996, and the case sent shockwaves through the nation due to its brutality and the vulnerability of the victim. O’Shaughnessy, who was then 31 years old, was convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for his crimes. His incarceration has lasted over two decades, during which he has been held in various types of facilities, including open prisons where he is now eligible for day releases.

O’Shaughnessy’s journey through the parole process has been lengthy and complex. He has participated in three parole hearings so far. The first significant step was in 2017, when authorities agreed to transfer him to an open prison setting. However, his parole bid in 2021 was ultimately denied. Now, in 2023, he is facing his third hearing, scheduled for June 15th, which will determine whether he can be released into the community.

Details of the case reveal that O’Shaughnessy had a history of drifting and frequenting pubs, and he arrived at the homeless hostel in Chester a few months before Kayleigh’s death, with his pregnant girlfriend and her three children. The victim, Kayleigh, was last seen leaving the hostel on December 19, 1997, to buy chips. Her body was discovered by a man walking his dog along the banks of the River Dee on February 10, 1997.

During the trial at Mold Crown Court in North Wales, O’Shaughnessy admitted to raping and killing Kayleigh. The court was told that he had befriended her on the way back from the chip shop and persuaded her to take a walk by the river. It was during this walk that he assaulted her, and she sobbed, saying, “I’ll tell my mum, I’ll tell my mum.”

O’Shaughnessy’s involvement was confirmed after he was identified and questioned by police. Initially denying any involvement, he later made a midnight phone call to confess, stating, “I killed Kayleigh Ward.” When asked why he had murdered her after raping her, he explained, “Because she was bound to have told people what I had done. It was the easiest way out of it.”

He has now served over 25 years behind bars, and the Parole Board has indicated that his case is under careful review. A spokesperson explained that the process involves a thorough examination of all evidence, including the details of the original crime, behavior change, and the impact on the victim’s family. The upcoming hearing will include testimonies from probation officers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and victim personal statements. The decision will be based on whether O’Shaughnessy poses a manageable risk to the public if released.

If the Parole Board recommends his release, O’Shaughnessy could be back on the streets as early as mid-July, raising ongoing concerns about public safety and justice for Kayleigh Ward’s family. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violent crime and the complexities involved in parole decisions for such offenders.