“He is a cold, calculated killer, he has been and will always be. And I don’t want another family to go through what we have had to go through at the hands of Dunlop.”
Ann Ming spent 17 years fighting to overturn the double jeopardy law and see her daughter Julie Hogg’s killer jailed. But now, she faces the real prospect of him being freed.
For the first time, Billy Dunlop, now 63-years-old, bid for full release at a parole hearing in London after spending almost three decades behind bars.
The “evil” killer - who said his outlook on life has changed since the death of his son last year - is no longer the “violent” person he once was and that he “cringes” looking back.
But for Ann, now 80, she believes Dunlop should never be released, saying time “won’t change” the “cold and calculated” murderer who tragically cut her daughter’s life short in 1989.
On Wednesday (October 21), alongside her grandson Kevin Hogg, 40, Ann had to listen as professionals recommended his release, saying he has shown “empathy”.
Kevin, who was three at the time of his mum’s death, even had to hear Dunlop compare his own son’s death to Julie’s, and listened as he described how the pair were “joined” in his mind.
And, sitting in a hotel in London this morning (October 22), Ann told The Northern Echo that she feels it is “not looking very promising”.
“He should be in prison for life, and that goes for any murderer. You have got to look at public protection,” she said.
"After he was wrongfully acquitted, he didn’t just lie low in the community did he. He tried to kill another man and woman, he attacked another woman.
“That is what his history is and time won’t change the person to me.
“Where are they coming from to think he is alright to go in the community? Would they want him to live next door to them? I don’t think so.”
Family fears Dunlop is ‘hoodwinking’ parole board
Kevin, who told the parole board that he would “constantly be on edge, wondering what he is doing" if Dunlop was freed, also believes he will be recommended for release.
He slammed Dunlop for his comparison between losing Julie and losing his own son and raised concerns that the once “manipulative” killer could still be lying.
“He fully understands the grief because he has lost a child? You can't compare losing the way I lost my mum to the way he lost his son,” he argued.
“It is not even in the same compatibility to understand or even comprehend.”
Kevin said that “no one is denying he can’t be rehabilitated” but reiterated how Dunlop lied for almost 20 years, having twice been tried for 1989 murder but being acquitted.
In the years that followed, Dunlop went on to laugh at the law when he boasted to a prison officer that he had killed Julie while in jail for another offence.
He only formally confessed after the double jeopardy law was overturned following Ann’s campaign, backed by the Echo, and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years in 2006.
“The officials are saying it would be hard for him to keep up the pretence of lying because he has been incarcerated for nearly 30 years,” he said.
“Well, he kept up the pretence of lying for 20 years about the murder of my mother.
“Within 18 months, the mindset and the mind shift has changed from he has now become a completely open person because he has lost his son.
“The establishment keeps saying there is no more work for him to do. We accept that. However, what we don't accept is that it is going to undermine public confidence.
“His history plays a part but they are only interested in how he has behaved.”
Kevin said it was hard to hear about how Dunlop had been a “role model” prisoner and about how he had allegedly changed after a “testing year".
He said: “He's kept his head down for the last 15 years.
“Maybe he's doing the whole reverse psychology of, do you know what, I will keep my head down, and I'll hoodwink them with the situation.
“Psychopaths have multiple faces, multiple personality traits.”
Dunlop, who appeared on a video link from an undisclosed prison wearing a light blue shirt during the hearing, argued that he was “not interested in hurting anyone".
He told the board how he actually felt “euphoric” after murdering Julie but soon after felt panic - and did “not think about the effect” it would have on her family.
But he admitted he had done a “lot of reflecting” following the sudden death of his son last year and wanted Julie’s family to "just be able to get on with their life".
Dunlop, who was twice previously recommended to be moved to an open prison before the move was blocked by two Justice Secretaries, argues he is no longer a risk.
If he was to be released, he would be subject to a string of conditions including a lie detector test, 12 months in a specialist hostel, tagging, and a curfew.
His prison offender manager (POM), community offender manager (COM), a prison psychologist, and an independent psychologist all recommended him for release.
Ann and Kevin said they have already set up a meeting with Justice Secretary Alex Norris in the coming weeks.
Read more:
Killer Billy Dunlop says he felt 'euphoric' after murder but has 'turned life around'
Son of young mum killed by 'evil' Billy Dunlop says he 'robbed him of his childhood'
Killer Billy Dunlop to make bid for freedom as fourth parole hearing starts today
“I believe that the parole board will go with what the professionals have suggested,” Kevin said.
“The Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, I do believe that he will either knock it back on the basis of public confidence.”
Ann added: “I just hope we get a Justice Secretary with the same common sense approach as the other two.”
The parole hearing continued today with a closed session.
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