Patrick Mackay, born on September 25, 1952, in Dartford, Kent, is among the UK’s most infamous serial killers, earning the chilling nickname “Devil’s Disciple“.
From an early age, he displayed violent tendencies, fueled by a deeply troubled childhood, psychiatric disorders, and a disturbing obsession with Nazism.
Between 1973 and 1975, Mackay embarked on a brutal killing spree, primarily targeting elderly victims. Though convicted of three murders, he initially confessed to 11, suggesting a far higher body count and cementing his status as one of Britain’s most prolific—yet often overlooked—serial killers. His crimes were marked by extreme savagery, including the axe murder of a priest, a killing that shocked the nation.
Mackay’s case remains a dark chapter in British criminal history, illustrating the terrifying potential of unchecked psychopathy and violence.
NAME: Patrick David Mackay – Changed to David Groves
ALIAS: The Psychopath, The Devil’s Disciple
DOB: September 25, 1952
COUNTRY: England, United Kingdom
VICTIMS: 3 confirmed
ARREST: March 1975
SENTENCE: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years
PRISON: HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire
Where is Patrick Mackay now?
SENTENCE: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years
Patrick David Mackay is currently incarcerated in HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire.
Patrick Mackay, who has changed his name to David Groves, has been behind bars since his 1975 conviction for three manslaughter’s, ranking him among the UK’s longest-serving inmates. He has been eligible for parole since 1995, however his repeated bids for freedom have been consistently denied over fears for public safety.
He was relocated to an open prison (low category) in late 2014. However Mackay reportedly had trouble adjusting to the less restrictive environment and was returned to a closed facility in May 2015.
In November 2017 he was again moved to an open prison, and earned temporary community release privileges to spend time in the community. He has since been seen out in public on day release.
The push to keep him locked up has gained strong support from local officials and MPs, who argue that the aging killer still poses a serious threat to society.
In 2020 it was reported his potential release was further delayed when police reopened investigations into unsolved murders he may have committed. Detectives are revisiting cases he once confessed to but later withdrew, raising the possibility of new charges. If tied to additional killings, Mackay could remain incarcerated indefinitely.
- Nov 2017 Transferred to an open prison
- Apr 12, 2023 Denied parole
- May 1, 2023 Was seen at a bus stop in Bristol on day release
Nov 2017 Transferred to an open prison
After an initial unsuccessful transfer, Mackay was relocated to an open prison in November 2017 and even earned temporary community release privileges. Official documents noted: “He has completed temporary releases and participated in a reintegration program designed to prepare offenders for civilian life.” [1]
Apr 12, 2023 Patrick Mackay denied parole
The Parole Board ruled that Patrick Mackay (he has changed his name to David Groves) remains too dangerous for release, ordering him to spend at least two more years behind bars. The decision follows revelations that Mackay violated prison rules by using drugs during his time in an open prison. [2]
In their assessment, officials noted troubling behavioral patterns, including a period when “drug use became a concerning issue.” This breach of trust, combined with Mackay’s “ongoing risk to public safety,” cemented the Board’s refusal to grant parole. [2]
May 1, 2023 Was seen at a bus stop in Bristol on day release
As of now, although Patrick Mackay remains ‘imprisoned’. He was spotted at a bus stop in Bristol in early 2023, while out on day release from HMP Leyhill, a low security open prison in Gloucestershire, sparking public outcry. [3]
CRIMES COMMITTED
Between 1973 and 1975, Mackay carried out a series of violent murders, often targeting elderly victims. Initially Mackay confessed to only 3 murders, but then told the police he had killed eight more in 1973, later retracting his statement. Police believe he may have committed more.
In 1975 he was charged for three murders:
1974 – Isabella Griffiths
Isabella Griffiths, 87 was strangled and stabbed in her home in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea
March 10, 1975 – Adele Price
Adele Price, 89, offered Mackay a glass of water, he followed her into her flat and brutally strangled her.
March 21, 1975 – Anthony Crean
Anthony Crean, 63-year-old chaplain to a Carmelite convent, was found murdered in Shorne, Kent – stabbed repeatedly, his skull split by an axe, and left in a blood-filled bathtub.
In a series of disturbing admissions, Mackay claimed responsibility for at least eight murders before withdrawing all confessions prior to trial. His alleged killing spree began in 1973 with the brutal murder of 17-year-old German au pair Heidi Mnilk – stabbed aboard a train before being thrown from a moving tram in South London.
The following year, Mackay boasted of pushing an unidentified homeless man into the Thames, a crime with no recovered body. His most shocking claim involved the double murder of 57-year-old Stephanie Britton and her 4-year-old grandson Christopher Martin in January 1974.
Mackay’s alleged murder spree continued with Frank Goodman, whom he claimed to have beaten to death in a vicious kicking attack. His subsequent confessions painted an even darker picture: the brutal killing of 92-year-old Sarah Rodmell in her Hackney home during December 1974, followed by the murder of 48-year-old café owner Ivy Davies in Southend the following year. Between these horrific acts, Mackay placed himself at another crime scene – the death of Mary Hynes in Kentish Town in 1974.
CAPTURE & INVESTIGATION
The brutal killing of Father Anthony Crean became Mackay’s undoing. The priest had once extended kindness to his eventual murderer, only for Mackay to repay his compassion with unimaginable violence—forcing his way into Crean’s home and butchering him with an axe in a crime so savage it shocked the nation.
The investigation moved swiftly. Forensic evidence led police directly to Mackay, and once in custody, his confession unfolded like a horror story. Not only did he admit to slaughtering Crean, but he also coldly detailed multiple other murders, including the killings of vulnerable elderly women across London. What began as a single homicide case soon exposed Mackay as one of Britain’s most depraved serial killers.
TRIAL & CONVICTIONS
At his 1975 trial, Mackay faced five murder charges but was ultimately convicted on three counts of manslaughter—for the deaths of Adele Price, Isabella Griffith, and Father Anthony Crean—after pleading diminished responsibility due to mental illness. The court handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years.
Two other alleged victims—Frank Goodman and Mary Hynes—were never formally prosecuted, as prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with those cases. These charges remain on file, a haunting reminder of Mackay’s suspected but unproven crimes.
Psychiatric evaluations confirmed Mackay as a psychopath, with experts warning he remained an extreme danger to society. Now imprisoned for nearly five decades, his repeated bids for parole have been consistently denied. Authorities maintain that his violent tendencies and past confessions to unsolved murders make him too high-risk for release.
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REFERENCES / CITATIONS:
1. Kent Online: Serial killer Patrick Mackay to remain in prison for murder of Kent catholic priest Anthony Crean in Shorne, near Gravesend in 1975 – May 14, 2021
2. Daily Mail: ‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer, 70, who was jailed for killing three people and admitting to eight murders before retracting his ‘confessions’ is denied parole after taking drugs in open prison – April 26, 2023
3. Bristol Live: ‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer Patrick Mackay seen in Bristol after day release from prison – May 2, 2023
BOOKS ABOUT Patrick Mackay
Psychopath – The case study of Patrick Mackay
First published in 1976, Psychopath is a study of Patrick Mackay who, in 1974 – with a string of muggings and killings behind him – was on trial for murder and was imprisoned in November 1975…
TV SHOWS & DOCS FEATURING Patrick Mackay
Fred Dinenage Murder Casebook – S2.E7 – Patrick MacKay
Obsessed with the Nazi regime and known for torturing animals, Patrick Mackay was certified a psychopath at seventeen.
TV Series / Documentary | 2011
PRIME VIDEO
Born to kill? S5.E8 – Patrick MacKay: The Devil’s Disciple
The case of British serial killer Patrick David Mackay, who is suspected to have murdered up to thirteen people in the mid 1970s.
TV Series / Documentary | 2011
Confessions of a Psycho Killer
Patrick Mackay was arrested in 1975 after killing Father Anthony Crean. He had butchered the priest with an axe and left him in a bath of blood. The killer’s confessions would leave the police in a state of shock.
Documentary | 2023
YOUTUBE
Note: Symbol denotes the show/episode is currently available to watch on youtube: We will list the main youtube channel where available, but wont link to channels directly on the page. Please see the comments section for links to specific shows/episodes.
MORE ARTICLES ABOUT Patrick Mackay
A selection of interesting articles about Patrick Mackay, sourced and curated from around the web:
‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer Patrick Mackay seen in Bristol after day release from prison
Bristol Live | Author: John Lucas & Shannon Brown | May 2, 2023
‘Devil’s Disciple’ serial killer, 70, who was jailed for killing three people and admitting to eight murders before retracting his ‘confessions’ is denied parole after taking drugs in open prison
Daily Mail | Author: Andy Gardner | April 26, 2023
Serial killer Patrick Mackay to remain in prison for murder of Kent catholic priest Anthony Crean in Shorne, near Gravesend in 1975
Kent Online | Author: Matt Leclere | May 14, 2021
Killer jailed in 1975 ‘not suitable for release’
The Standard | Author: Helen William | May 14, 2021
