Paul Massey funeral: Hundreds line streets of Salford for procession - RECAP

Paul Massey funeral: Hundreds line streets of Salford for procession

Hundreds of mourners lined the route of the cortege for Paul Massey, which set off from his late grandmother’s house on Sedan Close, led by the Fianna Phiadraig Irish pipe band from Wythenshawe.

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Massey’s body followed in a hearse drawn by four white horses, each of them draped in a Manchester United flag.
The white, wooden hearse, carried two large floral tributes on each flank, one said ‘Salford Legend’ while the other read ‘Grandad RIP’.
The father-of-five and was said to be devoted to his eight grandchildren and his beloved United.

Behind the hearse followed around 500 mourners, many of the men dressed in trainers, blue jeans and white t-shirts as Massey’s family had requested. He is said to have never worn a suit in his life.
Also in the procession were eight limousines carrying close family and friends including Massey’s partner of 28 years Louise Lydiate, 47.

Joel Goodman

Paul Massey's funeral procession passes along Liverpool Street

Two of the limos were crammed with wreaths from well-wishers. Among them was one from Britain’s most notorious prisoner Charles Bronson, serving life for kidnap and robbery.
He has spent 40 years behind bars - he was eligible for release 13 years ago - due to a series of attacks on prison warders.
“A great man, a good man, a friend. Never forgotten - Max respect,” he wrote on a card on the wreath. The pair met while Massey was in prison for stabbing a man in the groin.
Gangland figures from up and down the country were also among the mourners including, it is understood, Glasgow gun runner turned author Paul Ferris.

Joel Goodman

People on Churchill Way as Paul Massey's funeral procession approaches

Banners had been draped from railings with messages like ‘Respect to the Man’ along the route.
Following a private 50-minute service, the cortege left the church, led by Massey’s brother John, also wearing blue jeans and a white polo shirt.
The procession paused briefly outside The Winston Pub, where mourners, many with pints in hand, showed off a replica of the Champions League trophy, before continuing to Agecroft Cemetery and then a private wake.