"Thank You Greater Manchester"

Tuesday, 05 May, 2009

Ageing behind bars



Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy unveiled a billboard campaign last month to say a big thank you to the people of Greater Manchester for providing the information and witness evidence that put 11 members of the ruthless Gooch gang behind bars for more than 220 years for murder, drug dealing and gun running.

One of the posters show gang leaders Colin Joyce and Lee Amos how they look now and what they will look like when they come to the end of their 39 and 35 year minimum sentences, respectively.

A further poster features all 11 members and details the roles they each played in
these crimes.

Mr. Fahy applauded the bravery of the six witnesses who came forward under police
protection to give the vital evidence that took the highly dangerous gang members off the streets of the county.

Although they cannot bring back their loved ones, the jailings provide a huge comfort to the families of Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert, the two men murdered by the gang, that justice has been done. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: "I am keen to acknowledge the important part played by the six witnesses in this case, who provided vital evidence anonymously and resulted in bringing all 11 offenders to justice. I hope this will encourage others to come forward and help clear up other unsolved murders.

"I also hope that these images will make those people thinking of embarking on this type of lifestyle think again - life is a very long time."

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