PAUL CORRIGAN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BIRMINGHAM: THE EVIL CHILD KILLER'S SHOCKING ESCAPADES AND PRISON TRIPS
In a disturbing development that has shocked the community of Birmingham, a notorious child murderer, Paul Corrigan, has been allowed to enjoy unescorted shopping excursions into the town center for the past two years.These outings, which took place regularly, have raised serious concerns about the justice system's handling of a man convicted of one of the most heinous crimes involving a young boy.
Corrigan, who gained infamy for kidnapping and murdering 13-year-old John Haddon from Sutton Park in Birmingham in 1982, has been granted the rare privilege of leaving prison without supervision.
The tragic case of John Haddon, a pupil at Bishop Vesey Grammar School, remains one of Birmingham’s most chilling crimes.
John was abducted while riding his Raleigh Record bicycle through Sutton Park, a route he took daily from his home in Streetly.
His body was later discovered in a ditch near Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire, approximately 30 miles from Birmingham.
Corrigan, then aged 31 at the time of the crime, appeared in court on June 16, 1982, alongside his 16-year-old accomplice, Derek McInnes.
Corrigan admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to life imprisonment, while McInnes also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a seven-year sentence.
Despite the severity of his crimes, Corrigan has been allowed to leave North Sea Camp Prison in Lincoln, a Category D open prison, for shopping trips that only ceased when he was hospitalized earlier this year due to cancer.
Sources close to the case have revealed that Corrigan’s outings typically occurred three times a month, from 10 am to 2 pm.
During these excursions, he would walk down the high street, visiting stores such as Iceland, Home Bargains, Poundland, and Bargain Buys, where he would purchase various items, including ice cream and treats.
It was noted that Corrigan’s freezer was often stocked with ice cream and chocolate treats, which he enjoyed immensely, especially since such items were not available to him in prison.
Witnesses described Corrigan as a loner, with a volatile temper that could flare unexpectedly.
Despite his calm exterior, he reportedly boasted, “I’ve killed before, I’ll do it again,” during arguments, indicating a lack of remorse for his past.
The outings came to an end when Corrigan fell seriously ill with cancer, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent transfer to a hospice.
It is believed that Corrigan is now nearing 70 years of age.
Descriptions of him depict a tall, well-built man who walks hunched over, giving him a frail appearance.
Prison service sources confirmed that Corrigan had been leaving the prison up to three times a month for over a year and a half before his health deteriorated.
Corrigan’s obsession with violence and his perverted fantasies extended beyond his prison days.
While serving another sentence at Maidstone Prison for abducting a child, he authored a chilling 250-page manuscript detailing a fictional abduction and murder of a teenager.
This document was circulated among his cellmates, revealing the depth of his depravity.
His fixation on kidnapping and killing was not merely fantasy; it was a disturbing obsession that he sought to act out.
His criminal history includes a previous conviction for abducting a young boy, after which he served four years of a seven-year sentence.
Following his release in late 1980, Corrigan’s obsession intensified.
Residing in Kingstanding and working at a chip shop, he became fixated on executing a similar crime.
His plans culminated in the abduction of John Haddon, a boy who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Corrigan’s methodical stalking of children and schools, including a “dress rehearsal” of the abduction, demonstrated his calculated approach.
On the day of the crime, John was waved off by his parents and headed home after school, unaware of the danger lurking in Sutton Park.
When he failed to return, a frantic search ensued involving police, volunteers, and park rangers.
Despite efforts to locate him, John’s body was found later that evening in a remote part of Leicestershire.
His bicycle was discovered nearby in undergrowth, confirming the suspicion of a predatory paedophile at large.
Detectives quickly linked Corrigan to the crime after a police officer, Alan Meakin, found him in the grounds of a children’s home on Chester Road in Sutton Coldfield the day after John’s body was discovered.
Corrigan, visibly distressed and claiming he had attempted to kill himself, confessed to having wanted to commit such acts for years.
He revealed that he had read, thought about, and even written about the crime, indicating a long-standing obsession.
Further investigations uncovered horrifying details of John’s final moments.
He had been repeatedly stabbed with a hunting knife in what was described as a “Satanic fury,” a testament to the brutality of the attack.
Police also discovered at Corrigan’s home an oil painting of a schoolboy dressed similarly to John at the time of his abduction, along with hundreds of photographs and newspaper clippings of young boys, revealing his disturbing fixation.
At Birmingham Crown Court, Corrigan and McInnes appeared to face justice.
Corrigan pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment without setting a maximum term.
McInnes, who denied murder but admitted manslaughter, received a seven-year sentence.
The loss of John Haddon left his family devastated, and his father expressed a desire to see Corrigan hang for his crime.
A senior detective involved in the case summed up the sentiment, stating, “There is no doubt, and others share my view, that Corrigan is the most evil man I have ever met.” Today, Corrigan’s story remains a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity and the ongoing debate over the management and release of convicted child killers.
His case continues to haunt Birmingham and serves as a chilling example of the dangers posed by individuals with such dark compulsions.
