Family's tribute to 'a loving son, dad and brother'

Lee McConnell. Picture courtesy of Greater Manchester Police

The family of a man who died in Rochdale has paid tribute to him.

At around 10.15pm on Saturday, August 11, emergency services were called to a report of an unresponsive man at a property on Palatine Street.

Officers attended and discovered the body of a man inside the property.

The man has since been formally identified as 49-year-old Lee McConnell from Rochdale.

Paying tribute to him, Lee’s family said: “Lee was a loving son, dad and brother who was always there for his family and friends.  

“He was the type of person who would go out of his way to help others and now we are broken as a family.

“We can’t believe that he’s gone, that he has been taken from us in such a cowardly act of violence.

"We pray that the people responsible for this are bought to justice, and I would urge anyone out there who has any information to contact the police as a matter of urgency.  

“Losing Lee has devastated us as a family and I wouldn’t want any other family to go through the hell that we are living in at the moment.  

“I would just like to thank the police for their tireless efforts in trying to piece together what has happened. I would especially like to thank the community of Rochdale where Lee passed away for the support they have shown.”

Two people have been charged in connection with Mr McConnell's murder.

Forthy-three-year old Martin McBrine, of Palatine Street, Rochdale has been charged with murder and 69-year old Harry Mee, also of Palatine Street, has been charged with assisting an offender.

Both men have been remanded to appear before Manchester Magistrates Court today (Wednesday).

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