A GAME of truth or dare led to Tiernan Darnton admitting he murdered his step-gran Mary Gregory.
Here we take a look at how Mary’s life came to a tragic end and where her killer is now.
PAMary Gregory died following a fire at her bungalow in May 2018[/caption]
Who was Mary Gregory and what happened to her?
Mary Gregory, who lived with dementia, was a mother and grandmother who was murdered at the age of 94 in a fire at her bungalow in Levens Drive, Heysham in May 2018.
She was found in the conservatory of her property, carried from the flames by firefighters, treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and rushed to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where she sadly died three days later.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Mary, who was a heavy smoker, were believed to be accidental until Tiernan Darnton’s reported admissions, Preston Crown Court heard.
At a counselling session on May 9, 2019, Darnton talked about a friend who “could send me to prison [because] of what he knows”.
David McLachlan QC, prosecuting the case, said the counsellor ended the session and commented: “I’m not really clear what you’re saying, but I think you’re trying to tell me you’ve killed someone.”
Darnton then allegedly nodded his head in agreement, before returning to another session the following week accompanied by his stepfather, Chris Gregory.
Chris, the son of the late Mary, questioned: “Is this all about my mum?”
The court heard the 20-year-old then “volunteered” his admission, saying: “I set fire to the curtains with a lighter.”
Mr McLachlan continued: “Chris Gregory responded ‘What, at 03:00 in the morning?’ and Tiernan Darnton replied ‘Yes’.”
Following this shocking revelation, police began an investigation and spoke to Darnton’s friends, who told them of the Truth or Dare game they had played and the killer’s confession.
During the game he was asked to confess his “darkest secret”, jurors were told, to which he allegedly said: “I have a secret I haven’t told anyone. I may have killed someone.”
The prosecutor told the court Darnton then declared he had killed his “grandmother”, explained how he did it and that he did not want her to suffer anymore as she had dementia.
I thought he was just a normal teenage boy. Never in a million years would I think he could be a killer
Mary’s carer Karolina Madejska
He was arrested in May 2019, before officers discovered a series of disturbing Google searches when inspecting his devices.
In June the previous year, Darnton searched “murderer filled with despair”, “I’m a murderer”, “I’m a monster and I’m going to hell”, “I want to cause evil” and “Urge to kill again”.
Examinations found he had made another search in August 2018 which read, “feeling guilty for putting a loved one out of their misery”.
There were also detailed drawings of the floor plan of Mary’s home containing labels reading “good hiding place” and “quick exit”.
To prevent his step-grandmother from escaping, the monster even blocked the conservatory doors with a coffee table, unplugged a phone cable and dismantled a smoke alarm.
Despite the damning evidence, Darnton tried to plead his innocence — claiming he just wanted to impress his “edgy” friends with the confession.
He also said his admission to the counsellor was “attention seeking”.
However, jurors saw through his deceit and he was unanimously convicted of murder after a trial.
Darnton — who it is thought may have autism and depression — was put behind bars for at least 15 years.
Mary’s carer Karolina Madejska said: ‘If the police hadn’t reopened the case, he could still be walking the streets doing God knows what’
Where is Tiernan Darnton now?
Darnton is currently in prison, where he will remain until at least 2035 unless his sentence is reduced.
He is serving a life sentence for the murder of his step-gran Mary.
Following being jailed at Preston Crown Court, the killer was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years.
How to watch Truth or Dare: The Murder of Mary Gregory
The documentary about the shocking case airs on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 10pm on Channel 5.
If you miss it, fear not, as you can also catch it on My5 — the show is available on the streaming service until August 20, 2027.
Mary’s carer Karolina Madejska, who was the last person to see her alive, features in the documentary.
She exclusively told The Sun: “If the police hadn’t reopened the case, he could still be walking the streets doing God knows what. He could have done it again.”
Karolina, who began caring for Mary in 2017, added: “When I met him, I thought he was a sweet, polite guy.
“I thought he was just a normal teenage boy. Never in a million years would I think he could be a killer.
“Thinking about it now gives me goosebumps.”