Manchester shootings: Security high as Dale Cregan appears in court DALE Cregan appeared in court today accused of four murders including the shooting and grenade attack that killed two policewomen. Dale Cregan makes court appearance Pcs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, described as "wonderful human beings" and dedicated police officers, died in Hattersley, Tameside, on Tuesday morning. The defendant also faced charges of murdering father and son David and Mark Short earlier this year and four attempted murders. Cregan, wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, was brought into court at 10.08am for the hearing, which lasted just two minutes at Manchester City Magistrates" Court. Cregan, who has lost one eye, was brought into the secure dock flanked by four police officers. Two more officers dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with machine guns stood outside the dock. Cregan, who has grown a thick beard, scanned the courtroom and stared over at the public gallery, where relatives of the Short family were seated. Cregan sat down as he was brought into the dock but got to his feet after he was asked to stand by District Judge Jonathan Taaffe. He wore a false black onyx eye in his left eye socket and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth to the courtroom, which was packed with reporters. Judge Taaffe then read out the eight charges the defendant faces, including that of murdering the two officers. The double killing provoked national shock and outrage after the unarmed policewoman were lured by a routine burglary call to a house on the sprawling Hattersley estate. Cregan was arrested a short time later after walking into Hyde Police Station two miles away. The 29-year-old was already wanted by police in relation to the murders of David and Mark Short in separate attacks in May and August this year. He has been charged with those two murders and also faces four further counts of attempted murder of three men and one woman who were either injured or present during the attacks on Mr Short senior and junior. Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that police staged a raid at a housing estate weeks before two officers were targeted at an address there in a fatal gun and grenade attack. A search took place on the morning of August 16 at a house on the Hattersley estate in Greater Manchester as part of the investigation to trace Cregan.