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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