Essex and Kent serial killer Patrick Mackay could be freed

Mackay, 69, who has spent the last 47 years behind bars, is set for a parole hearing as soon as September, The Mirror reports.

Westcliff cafe owner Ivy Davies, 48, was battered to death with a metal bar at her home in Holland Road in February 1975.

Mackay, a violent alcoholic who was diagnosed as a psychopath at the age of 15, was questioned at the time.

Mackay had admitted that he knew of Ivy Davies and had considered robbing her.

He was also allegedly heard bragging about her murder while on remand in Brixton Prison, but when he was driven to view her cafe and nearby home, he could not pick them out. 

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He later denied having anything to do with her death. 

Ivy Davies

Now known as David Groves, the convicted killer is reportedly a "model prisoner" and "optimistic" about his chances for a release.

A prison source told The Mirror: "He really believes he finally has a chance to be released. He’s seen as a model prisoner.

"In theory, there’s little reason to keep him behind bars, but it will be a strong board who approve his release – the public will be outraged."

Parole board decisions can be made in a few weeks but tend to take months.

Mackay could be seen back on the streets by the end of the year with a swift decision to release.

Ivy's son Victor told the paper he cannot give an account to the Parole Board as Mackay was not convicted of her murder.

He said: "Everyone knows he did more. He hasn’t shown any remorse. But there’s not a lot I can do about it."

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A Parole Board spokesman told The Mirror: "We can confirm the case of Patrick Mackay has been referred to the Parole Board. It is awaiting a date to be listed."

Two men were questioned at the time of Ivy's murder, and another man, from Basildon, was arrested and questioned over the murder in 2005.

Mackay's first identified victim was 87-year-old widow Isabella Griffiths, who was strangled and stabbed at her home in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. 

He then strangled grandmother Adele Price, 89, at her home in Lowndes Square, Kensington. 

Mackay later killed 63-year-old Catholic priest Anthony Crean using his fists, a knife and an axe in the village of Shorne, Kent.

Two days later he was arrested.

He was charged with five counts of murder but his convictions in 1975 were for three counts of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

Mackay had confessed to eleven murders but retracted his confessions for eight of them, including the murder of Ivy Davies.