Family of South Yorkshire grandfather stabbed 69 times by convicted killer win legal fight

John Gogarty who was stabbed to death in his home in Wombwell, South Yorkshire. Photo: Ross Parry / SWNS.

An inquest is to take place into the circumstances surrounding the death of a South Yorkshire grandfather who stabbed 69 times by a convicted killer.

John Gogarty, 65, was killed at his Wombwell home by Ian Birley in 2015, just 18 months after the 43-year-old had been released from prison for another murder.

Birley, who was out on licence for the 1995 killing at the time, was given a whole life term for Mr Gogarty's murder two years ago.

His accomplice, Helen Nichols, was given a life sentence with a 20-year-minimum.

Ian Birley who has been found guilty of the murder of John Gogarty after a three week trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Photo: Ross Parry / SWNS.

On Monday, lawyers representing Mr Gogarty's daughter, Nicola, won the right to have a full inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death, which will look at whether there were failings by agencies involved in and after Birley's release from prison.

After hearing arguments at the Medico-Legal Centre, in Sheffield, senior coroner Chris Dorries agreed an inquest should take place at a date yet to be fixed.

Inquests are not normally held into deaths which have been explored in a crown court trial.