Tony McCluskie murdered his sister before dismembering the body
The father of murdered EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has finally given up his efforts to forgive his son for the star’s murder.
Anthony McCluskie had vowed to ‘stand by’ his son, Tony, following his conviction for murdering Gemma at their home in 2012.
McCluskie battered his sister to death after a furious row over his addiction to skunk cannabis, before using knives and a meat cleaver to cut off her limbs and head, and dumping them separately in a canal.
Their father initially made good on his promise and regularly sent letters to Tony at HMP Highdown, Surrey, but has now turned his back after showing no repentance for the murder of his own sister.
He told the Daily Star Sunday: ‘Every letter was the same. He’s not showing any remorse, not an ounce of remorse. He doesn’t mention her name.
“I’m trying to support and look after him but he’s not showing any remorse.
‘And that was it. In the end I went, “I’ve had enough, Tony”.
The actress was killed after returning from the opening of the new Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel
“On that last visit I said, “I’ve had enough of you”. I said, “I’m gone, I’m out of your life now”.
Anthony McCluskie has finally given up his efforts to forgive his son, Tony, for the star’s murder
Gemma, 29, had been left in charge of the family home in Shoreditch, east London, when her mother Pauline was hospitalised with an MRSA infection after surgery to remove a brain tumour.
The actress was killed after returning from the opening of the new Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
CCTV footage showed her body being bundling a heavy suitcase into the back of a taxi. When the driver asked him what was in it, McCluskie replied: ‘My sister.’
The judge at his trial told McCluskie he was responsible for an ‘utterly cold-blooded and determined’ killing.
The actress, who worked part-time as a barmaid, enjoyed success as Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap in 2000, at the age of 17.
In contrast, her brother drifted between manual jobs, most recently as a window cleaner on high-rise buildings.
McCluskie spent most of the time in his room, smoking up to 15 cannabis joints and drinking up to ten pints of lager, fortified with shots of tequila, every day.
The actress, who worked part-time as a barmaid, enjoyed success as Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap (pictured) in 2000, at the age of 17
For four days he acted as the concerned brother, even posing for photographs with an appeal poster. And in a chilling ruse, McCluskie texted his sister, pretending he did not know she was dead. He signed off one message with ‘love ya xxx’.
Mr McCluskie added: ‘Don’t get me wrong, I still do think about him. But I haven’t had no contact with him now for over two years. And I won’t contact him again.
‘I’ve lost two children, haven’t I? I’ve lost Gemma, the love of my life, and my eldest son, Tony, my first-born.’