Police ignored stabbing murder clue

10:08am Saturday 19th July 2008

A police force has launched a review after a member of the public was told to dispose of a knife found days after the murder of a father of three.

Dave MacDonald, 50, found a six-inch paring knife in a doorway near his office in Bolton on Tuesday - two days after Paul Gilligan was stabbed - according to the Daily Express newspaper.

Mr Gilligan was knifed in the chest and shoulder at the Pepper Alley pub in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Sunday. He died at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mr MacDonald told the Daily Express: "The operator was very dismissive. I was astonished."

It took another call to detectives before a CID officer turned up to take the knife away and thank Mr MacDonald for his help, according to the paper.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed police had received a call about a knife being found in the "Bolton area" and that the member of the public was told to dispose of the weapon as there were no "free patrols".

The spokesman said: "A radio operator called the member of the public back and informed them there were no free patrols to collect the knife and advised him that he could dispose of the knife himself. Greater Manchester Police is reviewing the handling of the incident."

On Wednesday, Leon Ramsden, 19, appeared at Bolton Magistrates' Court accused of murdering Mr Gilligan.

Ramsden, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, was remanded in custody and is due to appear next at Manchester Crown Court on July 23 for a preliminary hearing.

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