text: Ireland's crimes received sensationalist coverage in the tabloid press. As well as the nickname "The Gay Slayer", he was headlined as "Jack The Gripper" by the News of the World.
  Death
  Ireland died on 21 February 2012, at Wakefield Prison. A spokeswoman for Her Majesty's Prison Service said: "He is presumed to have died from natural causes; a post-mortem will follow." Later, his death was ascribed to pulmonary fibrosis and a fractured hip he had suffered earlier in the month as preliminary causes of death.
  Media
  In 2001, Ireland's was one of several covered in the fifth episode of Infamous Murders titled "Crimes of Prejudice".
  In 2008, Real Crime covered his case in the third episode of series 7 "Serial Killer on Camera".
  In 2012, Ireland was the subject of the fifth episode of series 4 of Born to Kill?.
  In 2013, Ireland's case was covered in the sixth episode of series 4 of Crimes That Shook Britain.
  In 2016, Ireland's was one of three cases covered in the first episode of Encounters with Evil titled "Thrill Killers".
  In 2017, Colin Ireland's crimes were covered in an episode of the CBS Reality series Voice of a Serial Killer.
  In 2019, Ireland was the subject of episode 7, in series 3 of Most Evil Killers. on Sky UK-owned channel, Pick.