Kidnapped, brutally murdered in 'military-style operation'... and still missing

15 years on, Paul Brady's family are no closer to finding his body. Brutally murdered as part of a 'military style operation', Mr Brady's remains have never been found.

His killer has faced justice, but his family are still seeking closure. Mr Brady, 43, a father-of-four from Rochdale, worked as a site manager for a property developer.

But he had also been leading a secret double life as a drug dealer. He was lured to a building site in Bacup, Lancashire in August 2009, and set upon by 10 to 15 masked men armed with metal poles, baseball bats, and a shotgun.

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Mr Brady was bundled in a vehicle and taken away. No ransom was demanded, and he has not been seen since.

His killer, drug dealer Paul Devalda, was jailed in 2011 for Mr Brady's murder and ordered to serve at least 21 years. The judge said that the probable reason for the kidnap was to steal cocaine worth about £350,000 from Mr Brady, but he said he could not be sure.

In 2018 Devalda, then 43, tried to have his conviction overturned, but appeal judges dismissed the bid. 15 years on since Mr Brady's death, police have made a renewed appeal for anyone with information to come forward, to help his family gain closure.

Superintendent Gareth Willis, Head of Major Crime at Lancashire Constabulary, said: "It’s been fifteen years since Paul Brady was kidnapped and murdered and my thoughts remain with his loved ones. While a number of people were convicted and jailed for their parts in his murder Paul’s body has sadly never been found and I would appeal to anyone who may have any information as to where he may be to come forward and contact us.

"Loyalties and priorities may have changed over