Paul Massey (gangster)

Paul Massey (7 January 1960[1] – 26 July 2015), nicknamed Mr. Big, was an English criminal and Salford-based businessman. He was gunned down outside his home by an unknown assailant on 26 July 2015.[2]

Early life

Massey was born and brought up in Ordsall, Salford, by his mother Rose Massey and father John Massey, one of six children.he has a cousin [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.[1] Through these businesses, he and his gang were able to control the doors of several Manchester-area nightclubs.[4] At the time of his death, the regional organised crime squad was investigating Massey over allegations of money-laundering. In March 2015, after three years, authorities lifted Massey's bail restrictions.[5][6][7]

Conviction and imprisonment

In 1999, Massey was sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing a man in the groin.[8]

Mediator

Several media outlets reported that Massey served as an important mediator between rival firms in the Greater Manchester area.[9][10]

Mayoral campaign

In 2012, following his 2007 release from Frankland Prison, Massey announced he was running for mayor of Salford.[11] Massey 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. The killer was reported to have been wearing military style fatigues and carried a weapon "similar to a sub machine gun."[12] The Greater Manchester Police have offered a £50,000 reward for information pertaining to the killing of Massey.[13] He was aged 55.

Aftermath

Authorities in the Manchester area fear an escalation in gang-violence related to Massey's death. Manchester police believe that the shooting of 29-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son was linked to retribution for the Massey killing.[14] From January–December 2015, there were 19 shootings in Salford.[15]

Personal

Massey was giving the nickname "Mr. Big" by city councillor Joe Burrows during a meeting in 1992 held to address ongoing civil disturbances in Salford.[16]

Massey had five children and eight grandchildren.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "As Salford buries its Mr Big, his gang want revenge and the turf wars grow". The Guardian. 26 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Paul Massey Murder". BBC. Retrieved 16 December 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. 1 2 3 "Paul Massey death: Who was Salford's Mr Big?". BBC. 27 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Salford's Paul Massey speaks out after he's freed from bail restrictions that lasted three years". Manchester Evening News. 19 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Paul Massey's death and Salford's escalating gang feud - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  7. ↑ "Salford mayor candidate Paul Massey 'not a criminal'". BBC. 13 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "Who Was 'Salford's Mr Big' Paul Massey?". Sky News. 27 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Who is Paul Massey?". Manchester Evening News. 8 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Paul Massey shooting: Salford's 'Mr Big' may have been targeted for mediating between rival gangs". International Business Times. 28 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Man jailed for 14 years for stabbing man is now standing for Salford mayor". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  12. ↑ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' case detectives offer £50k reward - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  13. ↑ Halliday, Josh. "Paul Massey murder: police offer £50,000 reward for information". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  14. ↑ "Salford boy and mother shooting 'linked to gang feuds' - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  15. ↑ "Bad blood". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  16. ↑ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' shot dead by masked gunman - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  17. ↑ "Father-of-five businessman dubbed as a 'Mr Big' shot dead". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
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