999 call handler sacked in hunt for murderer

A 999 call handler who tipped off her boyfriend about the identity of a neighbour during the Dale Cregan manhunt has been sacked.

25 year old Kathryn Smith admitted discussing confidential information relating to the murder with her boyfriend at the time, Sean Booth, a childhood friend of the killer.

The call handler from Droylsden has lodged an appeal against her dismissal from Greater Manchester Police and according to a Daily Mail report, Smith claims she often discussed her work with Booth as part of lovers 'tittle tattle'.

Claiming that she never believed the information would be used, Smith was acquitted of aiding and abetting the Cregan family, however the jury heard how she used the force computer to look up incidents relating to the murder hunt.

Smith told the court that she had never met Mrs Cregan but had been introduced to Dale Cregan himself once in a pub and says she "didn't like him".

Admitting when she was questioned that she often looked at the force computer, Smith insisted she did this out of "nosiness" and that there was nothing sinister about it.

Cregan who is currently serving four life sentences for gangland murders and the killing of WPC's Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, was on the run at the time of Smith's disclosures.

Greater Manchester Police confirm that Smith has been dismissed from her post and confirmed that an appeal has been lodged.

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