Fresh appeal to find body after brutal murder 15 years ago

A renewed plea has been made to locate the remains of Paul Brady, a housing manager from Rochdale who was brutally murdered 15 years ago.

Brady, 44, was last seen being dragged into a van by up to 15 attackers on the upscale Lynn Court estate in Weir, near Bacup.

He had been lured to the site under the guise of a repair job, only to be ambushed by masked assailants armed with a shotgun and baseball bats.

David Collier, a joiner accompanying Brady, managed to escape, but horrified witnesses saw Brady being viciously beaten and a lifeless body driven away.

Two vehicles were involved in the abduction: a van later found abandoned on moorland, and a Citroen Berlingo, which was discovered burnt out in Manchester. The hunt for Brady's body continues as authorities appeal for new information.

In 2011, Rochdale Online reported how two men were jailed for a total of 21 years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Paul Brady - following his disappearance in Bacup in 2009.
 

Read more: Men sentenced for the manslaughter of Paul Brady Published: 11 November 2011

Daniel Jones and Michael Dunphy were sentenced at Preston Crown Court having also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap.

Jones, 28, of HMP Forest Bank, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and Dunphy, 38, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 11 years.

Both men were originally charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the fourth day of their trial at Preston Crown Court in October and these pleas were accepted.

Some 13 years later, Lancashire Police are still looking for Paul’s body.

Superintendent Gareth Willis, Head of Major Crime at Lancashire Constabulary, said: "It’s been fifteen years since Paul Brady was kidnapped and murdered and my thoughts remain with his loved ones.

"While a number of people were convicted and jailed for their parts in his murder Paul’s body has sadly never been found and I would appeal to anyone who may have any information as to where he may be to come forward and contact us.

"Loyalties and priorities may have changed over the years and finding Paul’s body would help bring some sense of closure to his family. Anyone with information should contact us on 101.

"Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."