Paul Massey (gangster)

Paul Massey
Born(1960-01-07)7 January 1960
Ordsall, Salford, England
Died26 July 2015(2015-07-26) (aged 55)
Manchester Road, Clifton, Greater Manchester, England
Cause of deathGunshot wound
NationalityBritish
Criminal statusDeceased
Children5
Criminal penalty14 years 9 months
(served 8 years)
Imprisoned atHM Prison Frankland

Paul Massey (7 January 1960 – 26 July 2015) was an English organised crime figure and Salford-based businessman. He was shot dead outside his home by Mark Fellows on 26 July 2015.[1]

Early life

Massey was born on 7 January 1960 in Ordsall, Salford, England.[2] He was one of six children of Rose Massey and John Massey.[3] When Massey was 12, he was arrested for criminal damage and sent to approved school.[4]

Criminal career

In the 1990s, Massey established several security companies.[2] Through these businesses, Damian Noonan, he and his gang were able to control the doors of several Manchester-area nightclubs.[4]

In 1999, Massey was sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing a man in the groin.[5]

Several media outlets reported that Massey served as an important mediator between rival organised crime firms in Greater Manchester.[6][7]

At the time of his death, the regional organised crime squad was investigating Massey over allegations of money-laundering.[8][9]

Mayoral campaign

In 2012, following his 2007 release from Frankland Prison, Massey announced he was running for mayor of Salford.[10] He finished seventh out of ten candidates.[4]

Death

On 26 July 2015, Massey was shot dead outside his home on Manchester Road, Clifton, by a lone gunman. Mark Fellows, the killer, was reported to have been wearing military style fatigues and carried a weapon "similar to a sub machine gun".[11] Greater Manchester Police offered a £50,000 reward for information pertaining to the killing.[12]

Aftermath

Authorities in the Manchester area feared an escalation in gang violence related to Massey's death. Manchester police believe that the shooting of a 29-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son was linked to retribution for the Massey killing.[13] From January–December 2015, there were 19 shootings in Salford.[14]

Arrest and conviction

On 1 June 2018, Fellows was charged with Massey's murder and also that of Massey's close friend, Liverpool gangster John Kinsella.[15][16] Fellows was subsequently convicted and sentenced to a whole life order.[17] Conspirators used PGP-equipped BlackBerry phones to co-ordinate the murder.[18]

Personal

Massey had five children and eight grandchildren at the time of his death.[19] Massey was given the nickname "Mr Big" by city councillor Joe Burrows during a meeting in 1992 held to address ongoing civil disturbances in Salford.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Paul Massey Murde". BBC. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b "As Salford buries its Mr Big, his gang want revenge and the turf wars grow". The Guardian. 26 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Paul Massey funeral: Armed police on stand-by as gangland figures expected to pay respects to Salford 'Mr Big'". Manchester Evening News. 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Paul Massey death: Who was Salford's Mr Big?". BBC. 27 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Who Was 'Salford's Mr Big' Paul Massey?". Sky News. 27 July 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Who is Paul Massey?". Manchester Evening News. 8 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Paul Massey shooting: Salford's 'Mr Big' may have been targeted for mediating between rival gangs". International Business Times. 28 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Paul Massey's death and Salford's escalating gang feud". BBC News. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Salford mayor candidate Paul Massey 'not a criminal'". BBC. 13 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Man jailed for 14 years for stabbing man is now standing for Salford mayor". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' case detectives offer £50k reward - BBC News". BBC News. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  12. ^ Halliday, Josh (26 November 2015). "Paul Massey murder: police offer £50,000 reward for information". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Salford boy and mother shooting 'linked to gang feuds' - BBC News". BBC News. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Bad blood". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  15. ^ Perraudin, Frances (1 June 2018). "Man charged over John Kinsella gangland murder in Merseyside". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Murder charges over gangland deaths". BBC News. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  17. ^ Scheerhout, John (5 June 2019). "Paul Massey murderer Mark Fellows 'whole life' sentence appeal Dismissed". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  18. ^ Scheerhout, John (9 July 2020). "The 'secret server' used in killing of John Kinsella and what it says about guns". Manchester Evening News.
  19. ^ Docking, Neil (14 January 2019). "Paul Massey in the words of those who loved him most". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' shot dead by masked gunman". BBC News. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

BBC Sounds Gangster: The Story Of Paul Massey