MURDERED ‘MR BIG’ MASSEY’S MAYOR DREAM:
Dad-of-five hinted at fresh political fight
PAUL Massey revealed he was considering standing for mayor again - on the day he was murdered.
The father-of-five posted on his Twitter account suggesting he was prepared to stand for a second time.
On a tweet dated July 26 he copied a link to an M.E.N. story about rumours elected mayor Ian Stewart might stand, and added: “Will beat you next time yo go for mayor pm”.
Theories about the motive for Mr Massey’s murder are rife throughout his home city of Salford, but police have made no arrests.
He died in a hail of bullets after being assassinated outside his home in Manchester Road, Clifton, at 7.30pm on Sunday.
The killing had all the hallmarks of a professional hitman.
Paul Massey
The gunman, who wore combat-style trousers and a green or khaki longsleeved top and black lace-up boots, was seen escaping down an alleyway next to nearby St Anne’s Church.
The area behind the church leads to large areas of open land including Clifton Country Park, and Clifton Marina, bounded by the M60 and River Irwell.
Mr Massey, 55, who was once branded Salford’s ‘Mr Big’, died from shotgun wounds and was hit four times.
It is likely the gunman would have needed accomplices in place at Mr Massey’s home as he arrived in his silver BMW.
Mr Massey was shot as he stepped from his vehicle, and hid behind his car as he came under attack.
He managed to ring a friend just before or minutes after he had been shot and also rang 999 saying: “I’ve been shot. I need help”.
Mr Massey stood for elected mayor in 2012 and came seventh, polling 2000 votes.
He said he would rid the streets of drugs and improve rehabilitation programmes for the young.
At the time he told the M.E.N.: “I don’t want to be known as Mr Big. I don’t want a reputation. I just want to be me.”
He had been on police bail for four years until it was lifted in March this year. He was arrested with five others in December 2011 as part of a probe by police and other agencies into a Salford-based security company and allegations of money laundering. Mr Massey was never charged.