Minister’s appeal to Greasby community after horror murder

Sep 17 2008 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

GREASBY Methodist Church’s Rev Gordon Gresswell has called on the community to “listen to one another and love one another” following the gruesome murder of Elaine Bailey.

Police rushed to the Baileys’ Locker Park home at around 2.30pm last Thursday, following reports of a disturbance involving a man armed with a “bladed weapon”.

Bernard Mannix, who lives two doors down, told the News: “This guy was going ballistic. He was banging and saying ‘I’ve killed her, I’ve killed her’ and trying to get in through next door’s large window.”

It later emerged that Elaine Bailey lay dead at home, while her husband smashed his way into his neighbour’s front room, forcing her to run and hide in the bushes.

A siege situation then developed, with Pump Lane cordoned off.

Robert Bailey eventually gave himself up at around 5.30pm that day and was promptly arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Rev Gordon Gresswell saw the couple’s three children at church on Sunday.

He told the News: “For all of us now, there are questions of how and why, but there are no answers.”

Elaine Bailey’s family has attended Greasby Methodist Church for generations and a book of condolence is open for those seeking quiet prayer and remembrance.

Her three children, aged four, seven and 13, have been taken in by Elaine’s immediate family.

Mr Gresswell said: “Elaine’s family have taken the children under their wing to keep them together as a family and that, for me, speaks volumes about good overcoming evil.”

Robert Bailey has yet to be charged and is now in a secure unit at Broadgreen Hospital.

Merseyside Police is currently awaiting results of a Home Office post mortem to determine the cause of Elaine Bailey’s death.

Greasby Methodist Church will be open between 10am and 2pm this Saturday (September 20) for those wishing to sign the book of condolence.