| As the hunt for the killer of Big Issue seller Patrick McDade, known as Paddy, entered its fifth day, scenes of crimes specialists remained at his home in Brown Constable Street scouring the area for clues.
Tests on evidence recovered from the flat, where Paddy was found with fatal injuries on Friday night, are being carried out in the police laboratory.
Detective Chief Inspector Willie Semple, the man leading the murder inquiry, told the Tele, “We are going to take as long as we need.”
Paddy was discovered dead in his ground-floor flat by a relative at around 9.50pm on Friday, six days after he was last seen alive.
DCI Semple again declined to be drawn on the nature of the victim’s injuries other than to say it had been a “violent death”. The motive for the crime and the exact time of Mr McDade’s death remain a mystery.
Key to the inquiry is Paddy’s movements after he was last seen leaving his regular pitch to the rear of Marks and Spencer in Seagate on January 17.
“We have had one or two witnesses come forward with bits and pieces about his movements,” confirmed the detective. “We would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen Mr McDade. Even if you’re not sure, please get in touch.”
Police have issued a CCTV image showing Mr McDade walking up Peter Street towards Murraygate, shortly before 6pm on that Saturday. He was later spotted walking along Panmure Street towards Wellgate, wearing a distinctive bobble hat, the last positive sighting of him alive.
DCI Semple said his team had had only a limited response to an appeal for people who had given the victim household items as gifts to come forward. Police are keen to put together a full inventory of items in Paddy’s ground-floor flat so they can establish if anything is missing.
Anyone who remembers seeing Mr McDade over the course of the last week, or anyone who has any information which may be useful to the inquiry team, is asked to get in touch with Tayside Police on 0845 600 5705.
POLICE APPEAL AGAIN ON RAIDS
Police in Dundee are continuing to investigate a ram raid at Beaverbrooks jewellery store in Murraygate and a failed security van heist at Tesco’s Lochee supermarket (writes Graham Huband).
The jewellery store was targeted on Sunday morning when a Skoda Felicia van — stolen earlier from a scrapyard in Perrie Street — was driven at speed into the shop window. The raiders fled empty-handed after the car failed to punch through security shuttering.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the botched raid or spotted the distinctive disabled-adapted van.
They are also attempting to trace a sports-style motorbike that was seen following the van shortly after the incident.
Meanwhile, detectives are still trying to trace four men who attempted to rob a G4S security vehicle as it made a drop-off at Tesco’s Lochee superstore 12 days ago. The gang, one of whom was wearing a balaclava, drove off at high speed after being spotted by staff. Police are seeking a vehicle — a black four-door VW Golf R32 Mk5 — they believe the gang used to flee the scene.
Anyone with information about either incident should contact the police immediately on 0845 6005705 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers helpline on 0800 555111. |
