'It is a relief that we can now put this nightmare behind us'

News of Myra Hindley's death was greeted by many with relief, although there were isolated voices expressing anger at the treatment of the child killer.

Phil Woolas, the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth whose constituency covers Saddleworth Moor, said: "Whilst nobody would wish anybody suffering and pain, it is with a sense of relief that we can now begin to put this nightmare behind us.

"She never expressed any remorse and refused to co-operate with the investigations into Lesley Ann Downey's and Keith Bennett's deaths, and nobody in my constituency and this part of the world will mourn her passing."

Peter Topping, the former Greater Manchester Police detective who led the reinvestigation of the case in the 1980s, during which Hindley and Brady admitted two further murders, said: "The feeling of people in the area over the murders was very strong then and it remains very strong today.

"The murders will never be forgotten in the area of Manchester where the children were abducted from. There is a sense of rage towards Hindley. It is particularly Hindley because a lot of people felt Brady needed treatment. Hindley remained a controlled figure and was responsible for what she did."

But a Methodist minister who knew her described her treatment as a "scar on the judicial system". Peter Timms, a former governor of Maidstone jail who counselled Hindley, said: "I have supported her only because I think she had been treated grossly unfairly in comparison to other life sentence prisoners.

"I think that's a scar on our judicial system. The reason she wasn't released wasn't because she was dangerous but people were afraid of the press – that's a sad comment on our society."

The Labour peer Lord Pendry, a former MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said: "Nobody rejoices in the death of anyone. I have been persuading every Home Secretary from the early 1970s to the present one that she should not be released, not least because she would not stand a chance of living if she got out."

Hindley's solicitors, Taylor Nichol, said in a statement: "Myra was deeply aware of the terrible crimes she had committed and of the suffering caused to those who died and to their relatives.

"She was acutely aware that she would not be forgiven by many. During her 37 years in prison those who came to know Myra, prison officials, doctors and lawyers, knew well that Myra truly repented for what she did."