DETECTIVES trying to solve a violent kidnapping near Bacup will fly to Dublin this week.

Officers are heading to speak to Irish counterparts after a suspect in the Paul Brady kidnap case was killed in a 20-man brawl outside a pub on Sunday.

Jason Lee Martin, 39, from Hale, Greater Manchester, had fled to Ballyfermot, Dublin, with police wanting to speak to him about the August 1 kidnap in Beaufort Road, Weir, of 44-year-old Mr Brady.

Det Supt Neil Hunter said: “Some of my officers will be going over and assessing the full details of the Gardai’s inquiry, liaising in person as opposed to long distance.

“Whilst both investigations are serious in their own right, we have a slightly different agenda.

“They are investigating a violent attack on Mr Martin, ours is the safe release of Paul Brady.”

Det Supt Hunter said one of the key reasons in sending officers to Dublin was to look into any links between the gang they are searching for over the kidnap and those said to have clashed in the 20-man pub brawl.

Martin suffered fatal stab wounds on Sunday morning and died in Tallaght hospital. Four men were arrested at the scene.

Det Supt Hunter also appealed for a second mystery caller who rang with information about a violent kidnap to get back in touch.

The man called the incident room on Monday about 4.20pm and gave some information, but police want him to ring back.