Police review discovery of knife

Paul Gilligan was stabbed twice

Police have launched a review after a member of the public was told to dispose of a knife he found two days after a stabbing death.

The weapon was discovered outside a building in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Paul Gilligan, 31, died after being stabbed outside the Pepper Alley pub in the town, early on Sunday. A 19-year-old is charged with his murder.

Greater Manchester Police now have the knife, but say they do not believe it was the one used in the killing.

A spokesman for the force confirmed that a member of the public reported they had found a knife "in the Bolton area" on Tuesday.

'No free patrols'

He said: "An incident log was created by the call handler.

"The incident log was transferred to a radio operator who called the member of the public back, informed him that there were currently no free patrols to collect the knife and advised him that he could dispose of the weapon himself.

"Greater Manchester Police is reviewing the handling of the incident."

Detectives later went to collect the knife, the force confirmed.

"It is not believed to be the murder weapon, however inquiries are continuing," the spokesman said.

Two men, aged 23 and 20, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with Mr Gilligan's death have been released on police bail until October.

Leon Ramsden, 19, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, is charged with Mr Gilligan's murder.

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