Tom Kirwan murder: £5,000 Crimestoppers reward expires
A £5,000 reward for information over the murder of Tom Kirwan has expired.
But posters offering a £15,000 reward have been put up around Wolverhampton by his family who say they could make up the cash themselves if it leads to information.
Mr Kirwan was stabbed to death outside the former Uberra nightclub in the city five years ago. The 23-year-old, who worked at Bridgnorth Aluminium, died in hospital following the attack, which involved two groups of people.
Two years following his death, his family put up a £10,000 reward, while Crimestoppers added £5,000 for help to find Tom’s killer.
But the charity has said the reward it put up has now expired.
Director of operations, Roger Critchell, said: “The current position of this reward is that the Crimestoppers portion of up to £5,000 has lapsed and is no longer valid.
“The reward can be renewed at the request of the lead officer on the case, but because we are not aware of what stage the investigation is at, we cannot renew the appeal until we have had guidance from the force.”
The posters recently put up around the city feature a Wolves emblem, the team Mr Kirwan supported, and an anti-knife symbol.
A message reads: “There’s a murderer on the loose lets get the scum off the streets.”
Last night, Mr Kirwan’s sister, Martine Johnson, said: “We are hoping Crimestoppers would bring back the £5,000. We raised the £10,000 initially and they offered up the £5,000.
“But I tell you, if someone came forward and wanted £15,000 and could offer the information needed, we’d find a way now to reach that amount.”
In July, West Midlands Police began a review of its investigation into the murder case. The force also renewed its witness appeal. Spokesman Brigg Ford said: “This remains a live murder investigation and we are still appealing to any witnesses who saw what happened that night, and have not yet spoken to police, to contact us as their information could be crucial in securing justice for Tom’s family.”In 2014, five people were jailed for taking part in the trouble outside Uberra, later called The Canal Club, but now closed.. Another man accused of being involved in the fighting was acquitted.
