Nearly three decades after a man was brutally stabbed at his home after returning from the pub, the appeal for information surrounding his death continues.
Detectives are continuing the search for information to help bring justice to the family of Paul McGrath, who have been grieving for nearly 30 years.
On the evening of Sunday, April 6, 1997, Paul had gone for a drink at the Dog and Partridge pub on Ashton Road in Waterloo, Ashton-under-Lyne.
Paul, 34, then went back to his home on Holland Street West, Denton, where the unthinkable happened.
Sometime during the early hours of Monday, April 7, Paul was brutally attacked, suffering 18 stab wounds in what police say was a "frenzied and targeted" attack.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) think those responsible for Paul's death were searching for an acquaintance of his when they arrived at his home.
At around 7.30am that morning, Paul’s body was found at the foot of the stairs of his home after a workman who was walking past found the door slightly open and saw Paul lying dead just inside the hallway.
Two men were arrested within two weeks of the murder before going on trial in March 1998, but were both acquitted following a lengthy trial.
Police say Paul was "well-liked and respected" in the community and that he had no known grievances, with GMP believing he was targeted due to one of his acquaintances being involved in an ongoing dispute.
Now, 27 years later, Paul's family and police continue to appeal for information to bring those responsible to justice.
Paul’s sister Gillian is continuing to urge people for information, not just for her, but also for her elderly mother, Vera, who is 85 years old.
Gillian said: “I saw my mum bury her son and it was the worst thing in the world to witness.
"My mum, along with the rest of our family, goes to Paul’s grave to lay flowers on his birthday every year and we have done this for the last 27 years.
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“We just wish that we knew exactly what happened to our Paul and see those who brutally killed him to be brought to justice.”
A £50,000 reward is on offer for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for the death of Paul.
Detective Constable Matthew Sharkey from GMP’s Cold Case Unit, said: “We know there are people out there who are able to tell us what they know and what they saw all those years ago.
“Although it was nearly 30 years ago, you can’t just forget what you saw, it will be playing on the mind of someone who knows something, and I hope their conscience will allow them to speak to us after all this time – please come and tell us the truth.
"Your information could help a grieving family know what happened to their beloved son and it is never too late to come forward.
“All of the work we are doing is to get Vera, Paul’s mother, to finally see her son’s killer or killers brought to justice and help a family finally come to terms with the death of their loved one.”
Anyone with information should contact GMP’s Cold Case Review Unit direct on 0161 856 5978 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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