An appeal for information into the murder of a Denton man nearly three decades ago has been reissued by police.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says that anyone who comes forward with information that could help secure a conviction for the murder of Paul McGrath in 1997 will be eligible to receive a £50,000 award for their assistance – which was first offered back in 2020.
Paul – who was said to be “well-liked and respected” within his local community – had gone for a drink at the Dog and Partridge pub, on Ashton Road in Denton, on the evening of Sunday 6 April 1997, before returning home on his own just after midnight, and then being “brutally attacked” at some point during the night.
Police say the 34-year-old suffered 18 stab wounds in what they believe was a “frenzied and targeted attack”.
At around 7.30am the following morning, Paul’s body was found at the foot of the stairs of his home on Holland Street West, in Denton, after a workman who was walking past found the door slightly open and saw him lying dead just inside the hallway.
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Nearly 3 decades on, detectives continue to appeal to find out what happened to Paul McGrath & bring justice to a family who have been grieving for nearly 30 years.
Two men were arrested within two weeks of the murder, before going on trial in March 1998, but they were both acquitted following a lengthy trial.
Although through investigations over the years have established that Paul had “no known grievances”, detectives are still appealing to the Greater Manchester public for information into what happened that night, as they believe he was targeted due to one of his acquaintances being involved in an ongoing dispute.
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“We know there are people out there who are able to tell us what they know and what they saw all those years ago,” commented Detective Constable Matthew Sharkey, from GMP’s Cold Case Unit, as the appeal for information was reissued.
Police have reissued an appeal for information into the murder of a Denton man nearly 30 years ago / Credit: GMP
“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 forwards.”
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DC Sharkey said all of the work the police are doing is to get Paul’s mother to finally see her son’s killer or killers brought to justice, and to help the family finally come to terms with the death of their loved one.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Paul McGrath is asked to contact GMP’s Cold Case Review Unit direct on 0161 856 5978, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
All information will be dealt in the “strictest confidence”.
Featured Image – GMP
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Police appeal after man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information after a man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 4:50am this past Saturday (26 September), officers were called to Nicholas Street near the Pagoda in Manchester’s Chinatown, where a man was found seriously injured.
The man was quickly rushed to hospital, where he remains receiving treatment while police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding how he came to sustain his injuries.
At this stage, GMP believes there is ‘no wider risk to the community’, however detectives are ‘keeping an open mind’ as enquiries continue.
No arrests have been made at this time, and the man’s identity has not been publicly released.
While enquiries continue at pace, GMP has issued a public appeal for witnesses in a bid to uncover information on the incident.
Detectives say they are are appealing for anyone who was in the area around the Pagoda in Chinatown between 3am and 5am on Saturday 26 September.
Anyone who may have witnessed anything that could assist the investigation is urged to come forward.
Can you help? Anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to contact police on 101 or via LiveChat, quoting log 578 of 26/09/2026.
Featured Image – GMP
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‘Enough is enough’ – Andy Burnham issues emphatic statement on Avanti West Coast nationalisation
Emily Sergeant
Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring, the Government has confirmed.
After it was revealed back in 2024 to be the UK’s most ‘unreliable’ train operator, according to a shocking study, with 15.36% of its trains cancelled or delayed on average, it has now been confirmed that Avanti – which runs the West Coast Main Line from Manchester to London – will be transferred over to public ownership in March 2027.
Before this, the company had previously been given until 1 April 2023 to continue running the route, but was told it needed to ‘drastically improve’ its services if it was to stand any chance of having the contract extended further beyond that date.
Despite many customers continuing to voice discontent with level of services during this time, the Department for Transport (DfT) under the previous Conservative government deemed ‘significant improvements had been made’.
Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring / Credit: Avanti (Press Images)
Now though, in the year 2026 with a Labour government in power at Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the helm, it has been confirmed that Avanti West Coast will be nationalised.
The Government says the services will be ‘run in the interests of passengers, not private sector shareholders’.
“From 7 March, taxpayers will no longer be paying fees to a private operator. Instead, every penny will be spent for the benefit of passengers,” the Labour Party said in a statement.
Andy Burnham has also issued his own emphatic statement on the matter.
Enough is enough.
For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again.
So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in…
He wrote on X: “Enough is enough. For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again.
“So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in March next year. That means passengers, not shareholders, will come first.
“More investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right.
“We’re putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.”
Andy Mellors, who is the Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, added in his own statement: “Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with the Government to ensure a seamless transition into public ownership while remaining focused on delivering for our customers and communities.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st October 2024 
