Reward offered for catching killer of Denton man 23 years on

Police investigating the brutal murder of a man in Denton are offering a £50,000 reward for catching his killer - 23 years after his death.

The life-changing sum of money is on offer for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of 34-year-old Paul McGrath in 1997.

This week, Paul’s heartbroken sister, Gillian, described her late brother as a ‘decent, caring family man’ as officers from Greater Manchester Police's Cold Case Unit announced they were carrying out a forensic review of his murder.

Paul, a keen Manchester United fan and avid bird watcher, had been out drinking with his then partner in Denton on the evening of 6 April 1997.

Paul McGrath 

At 7.30am the following morning, Paul's body was found at the foot of the stairs of his property on Holland Street West when local workmen noticed his door ajar.

Paul had been murdered sometime during the night, brutally stabbed multiple times.

A well-liked man who had no known grievances, police believe he was targeted due to his acquaintance with others involved in an ongoing dispute.

Paul, left, holding nephew Kieron, alongside sister Gillian, centre, and sister Debra on Gillian’s wedding day.

Paul was born in Hyde and grew up in the Denton area, attending Russell Scott Church of England Primary School and the Egerton Park Comprehensive School.

He went to Tameside College of Technology, where he obtained his City and Guilds qualifications in joinery. He got his first job in Levenshulme and then went to work abroad for a short time, before returning to the Denton area and taking up a job with Manchester City Council based in Openshaw.

At the time of his death, he lived alone at his home address on Holland Street West in Denton.

Anyone with information should contact the GMP’s Cold Case Review Unit direct on 0161 856 5978 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Paul as a young boy

Watch a video relating to the case at the top of the page, which features Paul’s sister, Gillian McGrath and head of GMP’s Cold Case Unit, Martin Bottomley.