‘Get well soon wishes’ to Alan Bennett after heart shock as law-change over Keith secrets lumbers on

We at The Society want to wish Alan Bennett, brother of ‘lost boy’ Keith, a speedy recovery after his recent heart attack.

By all accounts Alan is doing well after a having a stent fitted a couple of weeks.

And we send all our best wishes and support to him.

With his usual Northern bluffness Alan had this to say about his health: ”To steal a line from a Peter Kaye sketch ‘My heart is on it’s arse.’

“I suffered a heart attack and had to have a stent fitted in the right side. While they were fixing that they found the artery on the left side of my heart was also narrow so I need a stent there as well.

“I am now pain free and on the mend and, hopefully, after the next procedure I will be completely fixed, or as close as is possible.

“A worrying time but, fingers crossed, all will be well. Thanks to all the staff at the hospital.”

A worrying time indeed.

Editor at The Society, Leigh said: “I have known Alan from a distance since my time at the Sunday Express when they had offices in Manchester. The news-desks in the building on Gt Ancoats Street supported Alan and his family and their unflagging determination to uncover the true of Keith’s disappearance at the despicable hands of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

“Since then we have communicated with him about a number of things, not least his powerful writing about Keith. We are grateful that he’s allowed us to use it.”

In recent months Alan has been working with Priti Patel to change the law to unlock the final secrets of Moors Murderer Ian Brady.

But we are still waiting for the Home Secretary to bring in legislation which will force the serial killer’s solicitor to give police access to personal paperwork.

Police for decades have been refused permission to examine the documents in two combination-locked briefcases left by Brady after his death in 2017.

One way or the other Brady and Hindley have cast a shadow over Alan’s life for more than half a century.

The chronology of horror and heartbreak

1963: Brady and Hindley murder 16-year-old Pauline Reade. Pauline was their first victim as far as anybody knows. Four months later they killed John Kilbride, 12

1964: They abduct and murder Keith, also aged 12.

On Boxing Day Lesley Ann Downey, aged ten, became a victim.

1965: Brady and Hindley murdered Edward Evans, aged 17.

They were arrested after Hindley’s brother-in-law, David Smith, tipped off police.

1966: Convicted of murdering John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans, and jailed for life.

1987: Hindley confesses to two more murders, including Keith Bennett’s, prompting Brady to also confess.

Searches of Saddleworth Moor lead to the discovery of Pauline Reade’s remains in a shallow grave. Keith’s body is not found.

2002: Hindley dies. She was 60 years old.

2017: Brady dies, aged 79. Before his death he asked for two locked briefcases in his room at Ashworth high security mental hospital to be put in storage.

A judge refuses to give the police permission for a warrant to examine the briefcases.

2019: Further pleas from Keith’s younger brother Alan to Brady’s solicitor Robin Makin go .

2021: Home Secretary Priti Patel says she will change the law to allow a search warrant to be issued. 

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