Man on run killed in organised mass brawl

Jason Martin

AN Oldham man on the run was murdered during an organised England v Ireland fight in Dublin that turned into a brutal bloodbath, it has been revealed.

Police had been searching for Jason Martin (39) since building site manager Paul Brady (44), from Rochdale, was snatched by up to 10 masked men armed with metal poles in Bacup, Lancashire, on August 1.

The battle was arranged to take place after Bernard Dunne’s world title defence fight outside Hannigen’s Bar in Park West Road in the early hours of Sunday morning. The 20-man brawl got out of hand after one man pulled out a knife leading to others reaching for weapons with hockey sticks, a hatchet and broken glass all used.

Irish police believe Martin was hiding from Lancashire Police with criminals in Ballyfermot who he had previously dealt drugs to and had prearranged the fight with a rival gang.

Martin is suspected of using other names, both in Ireland and the UK, which has delayed the formal identification process but police were believed to have contacted his family overnight.

He was stabbed in the chest and found slumped on a stairwell nearby. He died eight hours after being attacked

A second man is recovering in hospital after being hacked at with a hatchet and four men were arrested for attacking police officers at the scene of the fight.

Lancashire Police are now waiting for formal identification before ruling Martin out of the investigation. Detectives are not sure if Mr Brady is alive but are still working to secure his safe release.

Det Supt Neil Hunter, leading the inquiry, said: “Jason Martin is somebody we have been actively looking for since Paul was kidnapped and we have been making inquiries with our colleagues in a number of European countries in a bid to trace him.

“The information we have received from our colleagues in Ireland, however, has led us to believe that Mr Martin was the victim of a murder over the weekend.

“I would appeal for anyone who knows where Mr Martin has been since the kidnap or has any other information to get in touch with us.”

Detectives say a well-organised criminal network linked to drugs gangs in Manchester could be responsible for the kidnap.

Father-of-four Mr Brady was a site manager of an exclusive housing development at Lynn’s Court. The gang struck as he was travelling away from the site with a friend who managed to escape.