The De Gruchy family, Wayne, Jenny, Adrian, Matthew and Sarah. Jenny, Adrian and Sarah were found murdered in their home

A FAMILY member of triple killer Matthew De Gruchy says he is “the stuff nightmares are made of” and has told of their relief his parole was denied.

De Gruchy, 38, learned yesterday his bid for freedom was rejected by the New South Wales State Parole Authority because he still posed an “unacceptable risk” to the community and a psychiatric report hadn’t been completed.

He was been behind bars for 21 years for the horrific murders of his mum Jennifer, 41, and siblings Adrian, 15, and Sarah, 13. They were all found bludgeoned to death in the family home at Albion Park Rail, an outer suburb of Wollongong, in March 1996.

A wheel brace or something similar had been used to inflict terrible injuries on the victims. Mrs De Gruchy could only be identified through DNA and suffered massive head trauma, Sarah was covered with defensive wounds and Adrian’s room had been sprayed with blood.

The family source, who asked not to be named, said they had “flashbacks” of the terrible days after the murders when the full details of the grisly deaths became known.

“Every now and then I do get flashbacks and remember [the state of the bodies]. But I don’t want to dwell on it otherwise it would consume me,” said the source.

They said what happened was truly horrifying. “Matthew is the stuff nightmares are made of. But [we] just want to get on with life.”

In recent years, people connected with the case — including murder squad detectives and neighbours — have come forward to say they were still deeply traumatised by the bloodbath.

Matthew De Gruchy in prison.Source:News Corp Australia

“I’ve had nightmares about him, but I can’t let him damage me. There’s been too much already.”

The relative told news.com.au they weren’t as affected as those people, but it was not because they were brave.

“I feel for them, I do, but I can’t let it get to me otherwise it would be too much...I don’t think you can feel bitter or angry because then [the emotions] just take over your life.”

It was for this reason that they forgave him — but that didn’t mean they wanted him free.

“You can’t kill three people and then just walk out of jail and be a model citizen. So no, I would prefer he stay there.”

The sentencing judge gave De Gruchy, who was then 18 years old, a 28-year jail term, with a minimum term of 21 years. It may seem like a long time, but for wiping out almost an entire family, it wasn’t enough, the family member said.

“The judge said he could be rehabilitated because of his youth...I sometimes wonder though, with these judges, if they would think that if it was their family involved. Until you’ve been through it, you can’t know.”

There had been happier times for the family. “I did love him, I loved the person he was, but not what he became. I don’t love him now.”

De Gruchy as a teenager before the triple killing.Source:News Corp Australia

De Gruchy had been approved for day release earlier this year and had been working in an abattoir at Junee. A Corrective Services spokeswoman last month told news.com.au De Gruchy had been working in the “chill room and had no access to knives”.

Managers at the abattoir — which had to be risk assessed before he was allowed to start — had given positive feedback about his work.

“This inmate will be released back into the community at some point. Day works release is an important step to ensure he will assimilate into the community successfully.

The risk assessment found there were no “security concerns” for De Gruchy working at the abattoir.

News.com.au revealed in April De Gruchy had sent a card to a family member where he spoke of getting parole this year.

The unsolicited note contained the usual greetings — he wished the relative and their loved ones well — but also made a pointed and surprising reference to the fact things were about to change for the family, which has tried to stay under the radar since the brutal murders made national headlines.

A handwritten note by De Gruchy, evidence used in his trial to link him to the murder of his mother, brother and sister.Source:News Corp Australia

De Gruchy was taken away on a stretcher after the bodies of his family members were found.Source:News Corp Australia

The note revealed his parole attempt was weighing on his mind and was something De Gruchy was looking forward to. Now though, he will have to wait until next April for a second attempt at securing his freedom.

A spokeswoman for the State Parole Authority said De Gruchy didn’t meet all the requirements for release.

“SPA formed the intention to refuse parole on the grounds that the offender presents as an unacceptable risk to the community and had not participated in the required external leave programs,” she said.

“The need for a psychiatric report and confirmation of post release accommodation were also cited as reasons.”

De Gruchy has always claimed he wasn’t the killer and came home to discover the bloodied bodies. A motive was never established but it was suggested at his Supreme Court trial that De Gruchy flew into a rage when his mother wouldn’t allow him to use the car.

He was supported by his father, Wayne De Gruchy, at the trial and it’s believed Matthew De Gruchy wants to live with his father in Tasmania when he is eventually released.

However, news.com.au understands his eventual parole conditions could prevent him from leaving NSW.

His sentence will end on June 21, 2024.

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