POLICE LAUNCH APPEAL ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF PAUL MASSEY

There are few in this City that don't know the name Paul Massey, a well known figure in Salford dubbed 'Mr Big' by the late Salford councillor Joe Burrows in a 1992 town hall meeting discussing public disturbances. A moniker he claimed to hate and something he strongly denied involvement in.

Massey would later go on to run for the position of Elected Mayor in 2012 against Ian Stewart, during his unsuccessful campaign he insisted that he didn't want to be known as Mr Big saying 'People have got me wrong.'

No matter what, he was a man who divided opinion, you either loved him or didn't, however few would deny his love for his home City and some would go further to claim that Paul's influence kept the shady Salford underworld in check. It could be argued they were right as shortly after his death the City was gripped by reprisal attacks as GMP linked two shootings with his death and believe they were connected to a feud between two rival gangs in the Swinton and central Salford areas.

Paul had previously survived an attempt on his life by a man armed with a machine gun, after issuing a public warning, saying: 'I pity the bastard who did it'.

He spoke in an unaired BBC documentary filmed in 1998:

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"The only reason that's kept me alive today is because the person who fires that shot knows that they've got to fly the flag and handle the pressure after it... and they won't be able to handle the pressure."

 

No stranger to danger, his Family had received notification of an Osman warning (or threat to life warning) around six weeks previous to the incident at 7.30pm on Sunday 26 July 2015, whereupon 55-year-old Paul Massey was shot at again, this time five times outside his home on Manchester Road in Clifton which unfortunately resulted in the father of five being fatally wounded.

A Home Office post-mortem concluded that Paul died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Investigators believe it was part of an ongoing feud between organised crime groups in Salford and are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.

Police have now launched a further appeal for information on the third anniversary of Paul’s death. A £50,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The offender has been described as white and of slim build and was wearing a hat, possibly fisherman style, a face covering, a green or khaki long-sleeved top and combat style trousers tucked into black, lace-up boots. He was carrying a black gun described as a sub machine gun style weapon.

Witnesses describe the offender coming from the direction of the Clifton Community Centre directly across Manchester Road from Paul’s house. He fired a series of shots and then walked back towards the centre’s car park and was last seen walking in the direction of the side alleyway between this and St Anne’s Church. This alleyway leads out onto an open area leading to Clifton Country Park.

There was also a potentially important sighting two days before the shooting.

Police are appealing for information about a man who was seen at 7pm on Friday 24 July, in Clifton Country Park sat in, what is described as, a white Renault Kangoo van.

He is described as white, in his late thirties to early forties, about 5ft 10in tall and was wearing a black hat, jacket, camouflage trousers and carrying a torch and a gun described as being the same style as an Uzi. Detectives urge him to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Howard Millington, the Senior Investigating Officer, said:

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“On the third anniversary of Paul Massey’s murder we are renewing our appeal for information and offering a £50,000 reward. 

“We want to bring the offender to justice and we need your help. Salford is a close-knit community and I want to reiterate that if you come forward you will have our full support. 

“If you don’t feel you can talk to police but you have information, you can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously.” 

Last year family and close friends of Paul's met outside his home in Clifton, Salford to commemorate a year since what is perhaps the most high-profile murder in Salford history.

The Massey Family took time to speak to SalfordOnline and described the heartbreak of loosing a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend in such tragic of circumstances.

Niece Donna Massey said:

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“Paul wasn’t a gangster. He was a mediator. He policed the gangs in Salford.

“You know my uncle was a Salford person, he absolutely loved Salford and loved the community.

“He ran for Mayor [in 2012] because he wanted to be the voice of the community.

“He wanted the best, especially for the most deprived families in Salford.

“I hope people can remember all the good Paul did for them and please, if you know anything, please come forward.”

 

Whilst childhood friend James Blackborough said:

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“I’d known Paul since we were 10. We used to knock about together and we were always laughing.

He was a good man, a great man, one of the safest men I knew.

Signs asking for witnesses are still up on Manchester Road, 12 months on

“The things that are written about him in the media are just wrong.

“He saved a lot of lives.

“He would have been the best Mayor this city’s ever had.”

 

Our thoughts are with his family on this saddest of days, no matter what people think of Paul he was ultimately a man with a family, a devoted husband, proud father and grandfather as well as a good friend to many, who will be missed by them all.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police on 0161 856 9775, 101, or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.