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Guilfoyle’s brother’s sadness over ‘rift’

John Fahey
28/ 7/2005

THE brother of murdered businessman David Guilfoyle has lamented the fact that they missed their chance to make up after a bitter row ruined their relationship.

Jimmy Guilfoyle, 50, of Towngate, Great Harwood, has had to face the fact he will never be able to make amends for a flare-up several years ago over the funding of his pub, the Merrie England in the town.

His ex-wife Carole, 44, said: "Jimmy doesn't really want to talk to anybody about the rift. He has gone back to work now and is resigned to the fact they didn't have the chance to improve the situation, to make friends.

"No-one ever thinks something as horrible as a murder will happen in their family, you always think it will happen to someone else."

She added: "We just want David to come home or someone to find him. It is a mystery but somebody somewhere must know something. We are continuing to hope he will turn up but we are in limbo.

"None of us can move on. Not knowing what has happened is the hardest part. We still hope he is alive but it is inconceivable David would leave without letting someone know. He would certainly have told his daughter Sammy."

It is now more than nine weeks since Mr Guilfoyle - who was convicted in 2000 of smuggling cigarettes and possessing forged banknotes - vanished. Traces of his blood were found outside his £230,000 bungalow in Royds Avenue, Accrington.

Mrs Guilfoyle, of Noble Street, Great Harwood, spoke out after police said they had "a very disappointing response" to last week's appeal from Mr Guilfoyle's 15-year-old daughter Sammy Feeley, of Lime Street, Accrington.

She said: "It's a very peculiar situation. The police are trying their best but they can't conjure evidence. David's mum has senile dementia and thinks he is away on holiday, she wouldn't understand."

An underwater police search team has been scouring Hagg Lodge in Accrington this week but found nothing significant.

Police have offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and imprisonment of the killer and another reward for information leading to the recovery of Mr Guilfoyle's body.

Call Crimestoppers, free and in confidence, on 0800 555 111 or ring the incident room on 353626 or 353615.