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.[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.[5][6]

Conviction and imprisonment

In 1999, Massey was sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing a man in the groin.[7]

Mediator

Several media outlets reported that Massey served as an important mediator between rival organized crime firms in the Greater Manchester.[8][9]

Mayoral campaign

In 2012, following his 2007 release from Frankland Prison, Massey announced he was running for mayor of Salford.[10] 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".[11] The Greater Manchester Police have offered a £50,000 reward for information pertaining to the killing of Massey.[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

On 2 June 2018, Mark Fellows was charged with Massey's murder and also that of Massey's close friend John Kinsella.[15][16]

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.[17]

Massey had five children and eight grandchildren.[18]

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. ↑ "Paul Massey's death and Salford's escalating gang feud - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  6. ↑ "Salford mayor candidate Paul Massey 'not a criminal'". BBC. 13 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Who Was 'Salford's Mr Big' Paul Massey?". Sky News. 27 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Who is Paul Massey?". Manchester Evening News. 8 October 2010.
  9. ↑ "Paul Massey shooting: Salford's 'Mr Big' may have been targeted for mediating between rival gangs". International Business Times. 28 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Man jailed for 14 years for stabbing man is now standing for Salford mayor". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  11. ↑ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' case detectives offer £50k reward - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  12. ↑ Halliday, Josh. "Paul Massey murder: police offer £50,000 reward for information". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  13. ↑ "Salford boy and mother shooting 'linked to gang feuds' - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  14. ↑ "Bad blood". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  15. ↑ Perraudin, Frances (1 June 2018). "Man charged over John Kinsella gangland murder in Merseyside". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  16. ↑ "Murder charges over gangland deaths". BBC News. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-01 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ↑ "Paul Massey murder: 'Mr Big' shot dead by masked gunman - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  18. ↑ "Father-of-five businessman dubbed as a 'Mr Big' shot dead". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
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