Family pay tribute to Rochdale man found dead in flat

Joseph O'Hanlon was found in May.

Published 5th May 2016

The family of a man found dead in a flat in Rochdale on Monday have paid tribute to him.

At around 4.20pm on Monday 2 May, police were called to a flat in Town Mill Brow, College Bank Way, Rochdale to reports that a man's body had been found.

Officers attended and discovered the body of 61-year-old Joseph O’Hanlon.

A Home Office post mortem has revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is still in police custody.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information that could help the investigation to contact police as soon as possible.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Eales of GMP’s Major Incident Team said: "Our thoughts are with Joseph’s family at this incredibly difficult time. Our specialist officers are supporting the family and we are doing all that we can to give them the answers they deserve.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen Joseph between Thursday 28 April 2016 and Sunday 30 April 2016, in and around Town Mill Brow, College Bank Way in Rochdale to get in touch with police.

“We are keen to find out where Joseph was and who he was with.

“We have made an arrest however our investigation is on-going and we still need information. You might not think what you know is important, however even the smallest piece of information could help us piece together the puzzle that we are currently working on.”

Joseph’s family have paid tribute to him.

Joseph was with his partner Linda for 27 years and brought up Linda’s son Francis as his own.

Linda said: “Joseph was an incredibly generous man, he was gentle and funny and always tried to help others out, even when he had nothing of his own.

“He was the type of man who could light up a room with his presence . He had a love of music, poetry and colour and he was very artistic.

“He loved nothing more than talking and engaging with everyone he met.”

Joseph’s son Francis said: “We are absolutely devastated and heart broken by Dad’s death. We are in disbelief and cannot comprehend how someone could do this to anybody.

“He was brilliant, the best dad that anyone could ask for. We will miss him so much and feel that we’ve been prematurely robbed of the man we loved and cared for.”

Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 69283 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.