The grandmother of six children killed in a horrific arson attack over a decade ago has criticised the decision to release an accomplice of the killer.
Paul Mosley, 56, was convicted of starting the fire in Derby in 2012 with friend Mick Philpott and his wife Mairead Philpott. He has now been approved for release by the parole board.
Vera Duffy, the mother of Mairead Philpott, attacked the decision saying: ‘He should stay behind bars.’
The May 2012 attack killed Ms Duffy’s six grandchildren: Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, Jack, 9, John, 8, Jesse, 6, and Jayden, 5.
‘Do I think he should be out? No – he should stay behind bars with Mick [Philpott] where he belongs,’ Ms Duffy said.
Paul Mosley was convicted of starting the fire in Derby in 2012 with his friend Mick Philpott
Pictured: Mairead Philpott alongside her husband Mick Philpott
Philpott had planned to run in and rescue his children. But the plan backfired, with the fire killing all six children inside the property
‘No one told me he would be coming out and certainly he shouldn’t be allowed back in Derby – we should just let those little kids rest in peace.’
Ms Duffy added that she didn’t know where her daughter Mairead was. ‘I’m trying to put it all behind me,’ she explained to the Mirror.
The decision by the parole board to allow Mosley back onto the streets had earlier been labelled as ‘appalling’ by a Philipott family source.
He was originally released in May 2021 and was recalled to jail over concerns surrounding his behaviour.
But now the parole board said his ‘imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.’ The Ministry of Justice said that he can be recalled to prison if he breaks the conditions of his release.
In May 2012 Michael ‘Shameless Mick’ Philpott set fire to his house with six of his children still inside. After campaigning for years, it was an extreme plot that he invented to get a larger house from the council.
Philpott had planned to run in and rescue his children. But the plan backfired, with the fire killing all six children inside the property.
The couple and Paul Mosley burnt down the family’s three-bedroom council house in Osmaston, Derby, in 2012 in a bid to get a bigger home
He tried to cover up what had really happened and even went as far as addressing TV cameras in a press conference, presenting himself as a hero who tried to fight through the flames to save his children.
He had hatched a plan with wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley to incriminate her while posing as a hero who saved his children.
His wife Mairead and family friend Paul Mosley were jailed for 17 years, and Philpott was jailed for life. The trio had been convicted of six counts of manslaughter.
Mosley, Philpott and his wife all denied their part in the blaze – despite a wealth of evidence against them.
It was revealed in court that Mairead was also having sex with Mosley.
Mosley – who it is understood will not be allowed to live in Derby again now he is released – still maintains his innocence today.
A family source said: ‘This is a disgraceful decision. Mosley has never admitted his guilt despite clearly being involved.
‘He has killed six kids and is free to walk the streets. It’s appalling. He’s an evil monster. How can someone like that be let out?’
The board said Mosley’s behaviour in jail had been ‘largely without issue’ and his release would be subject to strict conditions.
These include living at a designated address and a limit on who he can contact.
The decision said: ‘In reaching its decision, the panel considered the contents of Mr Mosley’s dossier, prepared by the Secretary of State.
‘At the hearing, the panel took oral evidence from Mr Mosley’s probation officer based in the community, his former probation officer and the official supervising his case in prison.
‘Mr Mosley, who was legally represented at the hearing, also gave evidence to the panel.
‘The Secretary of State was not represented by an advocate at the hearing and did not provide written representations.
‘The panel had the benefit of a victim personal statement which clearly conveyed the impact of Mr Mosley’s crimes and the consequences of his offending.
‘The contents were given careful consideration by the panel.’
On its decision, it said: ‘After considering the circumstances of his offending and time on licence, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.’
Licence conditions include living at a designated address, be of good behaviour and a curfew, among others.