Serial killer whose victims included a Brent librarian dies in prison

Colin Ireland murdered Christoper Dunn who worked in Willesden Green Library

A serial killer whose victims included a Brent librarian has died in prison.

Colin Ireland tortured and murdered gay men almost 20 years ago including Christopher Dunn, a 37-year-old librarian from Harrow who worked in Willesden Green Library, in High Road, Willesden.

Dubbed the ‘gay slayer’, Ireland posed as a homosexual to get invited back to his victims’ homes before killing them.

The 57-year-old is believed to have died from natural causes in Wakefield Prison yesterday morning.

Ireland is regarded as one of Britain’s worst serial killers after admitting to attacking and killing five gay men he met in London pubs in 1993.

His first victim was West End theatre director Peter Walker who was murdered on March 8. He then went on to kill Christopher Dunn, from Wealdstone, on May 28, Perry Bradley, the 35-year-old son of a US Congressman on June 4 and Andrew Collier, 33, on June 7, along with his pet cat.

His fifth victim was 41-year-old Emanual Spiteri on June 12.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Colin Ireland died in HMP Wakefield’s healthcare centre on February 21 at 9.20am. He is presumed to have died from natural causes; a post-mortem will follow.

“As with all deaths in custody, the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”