Latest news with #MurielMcKay
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brink's-Mat robbery links to Pablo Escobar and Muriel McKay murder revealed
A criminal quizzed over the 1969 abduction and murder of Muriel McKay later helped British villains to hide the proceeds of the Brink's-Mat gold bullion robbery Brink's-Mat robbery cash was hidden offshore with the help of a criminal quizzed over the kidnapping and murder Muriel McKay, a Daily Mirror investigation can reveal. Adam Hosein was working for drug lord Pablo Escobar when he provided "legal and business" introductions for a British man suspected of laundering the proceeds of the 1983 gold heist. Hosein had previously been questioned about Mrs McKay's 1969 murder after she was abducted having been mistaken for the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Adam's younger brothers, Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein, were convicted of the murder at the Old Bailey in 1970 and jailed despite her body having never been found. Adam, now dead, fled the UK for his native Trinidad and later settled in Florida where he ran front companies for Escobar - portrayed in Netflix hit Narcos - in the 1980s. The Daily Mirror can now reveal that in January 1987 a man then suspected of laundering proceeds of Britain's biggest ever robbery, flew from London to Trinidad to meet Hosein. Police records show the pair then travelled on to Panama and Miami in Florida. Asked earlier this month about his dealings with Hosein, the man, now in his 70s, who we are not naming for legal reasons, told the Mirror: "While Adam Hosein may have been busy in other 'arenas', he had no direct involvement in BM [Brink's-Mat] other than facilitating legal and business intros. Networking etc.." Our revelations come as the latest series of BBC drama The Gold focuses on Scotland Yard's attempts to trace the proceeds of the Brink's-Mat robbery. It opens with the stolen bullion having been split into two, with one half hidden in a disused Cornish tin mine for years before being moved around the world. The gold was indeed split between the six robbers, with South London armed blaggers "Mad" Micky McAvoy and Brian "The Colonel" Robinson controlling one half, along with Brian Perry. The three other raiders, John "Little Legs" Lloyd, Tony White and John Fleming had the rest. After Robinson and McAvoy were jailed for the robbery the pair were cheated out of their share when Perry brought in fraudster Gordon Parry to help him hide the cash. The money allegedly hidden offshore with the help of Hosein, came from this half. A huge leak of confidential documents known as the "Panama Papers" revealed in 2016 that Parry laundered some of the cash using a company set up in the central American country. Ex-Brink's-Mat detective Ian Brown told the Mirror: "When this crime happened the most scared people of anybody were the villains because they were stuck with gold, what are they going to do with it? They are going to get money, what are they going to do with it? "They were used to ten grand, twenty grand for a robbery and they can hide that and spend it and go off on holiday and do other things but you can't with 26 million. Suddenly they were in the position of having to rely on other people to do things they were not capable of doing and that's hide money. "They have managed to find people who were capable of doing it." The other half of the gold was moved by M25 killer Kenneth Noye and Hatton Garden heist mastermind Brian Reader. They gave it to John "Goldfinger" Palmer in Bristol who smelted it in his back garden. We can now reveal that a British former solicitor's clerk suspected of hiding some of this half of the proceeds offshore has taken the secrets of the missing gold to his grave. Geoffrey Greenlees was accused of banking £4.1 raised from the stolen bullion in Dubai and was wanted by police. Greenlees was later named as a shareholder and director of a string of shell companies in the leaked Panama Papers. But he passed away in the Philippines four years ago aged 84 having never been arrested. He was named in court as being linked to this group through Jean Savage, robber Lloyd's common law wife. The former tobacconist from West Kingsdown in Kent, played by Dorothy Atkinson in the drama, is understood to still live with Lloyd in the same area. Savage's 1990 trial heard how she deposited plastic bags full of £50 notes at the Bank of Ireland in Croydon, South London, which totalled £2.5 million. It grew with interest to £4.1 million before Savage then allegedly transferred it into an account held by Greenlees in Dubai, Michael Austin-Smith, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey. Detectives said they wanted to question Greenlees and Lloyd, who had gone on the run. Lloyd, a close friend of Noye, played by Jack Lowden in the drama, fled to the United States while officers said at the time that Greenlees was last heard of in Jakarta. Ex-Brink's detective Tony Curtis, who spent 13 years on the investigation, told the Mirror he flew to the Indonesian capital in a vain attempt to track Greenlees down. Mr Curtis said: "There was no sign of him." Greenlees ended up living in Manila where he was patron and "Godfather" of the Philippine Lawn Bowls Association. A Facebook tribute to him on the Association's website said: "He died peacefully beside his family members." Only two of the robbers were convicted but they were all forced to pay out compensation to the insurers following a civil claim. Fleming, from south London, was charged with handling the gold but a London magistrate threw out the case in 1987. He is understood to have died while living on a barge in London. When Mr Brown caught up with Noye and his fellow launderers most of the gold had been sold, the cash offshore. The investigation, headed by controversial detective Tony Lundy, moved unofficially to Alicante, Spain. Bugs at Fleming's villa revealed he was moving money through an Isle of Man firm with the help of bent lawyer Patrick Diamond. Brown and Lundy flew to the British Virgin Islands, where they found links to a mafia hitman and US and Colombian drug cartels. Fleming, Diamond and Lloyd were ordered to repay huge sums after being sued by the insurers. Noye was jailed for 14 years for handling the gold with Brian Reader, who got eight. Also jailed for their part in the later operation alongside Savage were Perry, financier Parry and solicitor Michael Relton. John "Goldfinger"Palmer was acquitted of handling the gold. He and Perry were later shot dead. Of the suspected robbers just Lloyd, in Kent, and White, in South London, are believed to still be alive. Noye, now 78, served 19 years for murdering Stephen Cameron on an M25 slip road. The Mirror revealed in 2023 his links to a £40m carbon credit scheme. Mr Brown said of the Brink's-Mat proceeds: "I think it's out there but multiplied perhaps ten, twenty, thirty, forty times. It has earned hundreds of millions of pounds from the 26 million that went from Heathrow."
BBC News
22-06-2025
- BBC News
Muriel McKay's family welcome 'strong' leads in search for body
The family of a woman murdered 56 years ago said a £1m reward for information had led to two "incredibly strong" leads in the search for her McKay, 55, was kidnapped in 1969, held to ransom and then killed at a farm in Hertfordshire, having been mistaken for the then-wife of Rupert grandson Mark Dyer said they had received information suggesting her body could have been buried behind a shop in Bethnal Green Road, London and at a house in Buntingford, said they were meeting genuine people "with really tangible leads" and links to the brothers convicted of her kidnap and murder. Arthur Hosein died in prison, while Nizamodeen Hosein later spoke to the McKay family, explaining where he had buried Metropolitan Police interviewed Hosein in 2024 and, despite scepticism about his account, carried out a third dig at Stocking Farm, near Bishop's Stortford but no human remains were found. In one of the leads, a woman has come forward to say her father told her before he died that he employed Arthur Hosein at the tailor's shop he ran on Bethnal Green described how a body had been stored at the property for 24 father also employed a former Polish World War Two soldier "who was apparently heavily involved in disposing of the body" behind the shop. Mr Dyer said he had informed his contact at the Metropolitan Police, who told him she would put someone on the lawyers have written to the shop owners and the tenants and they were ready with a scanning team. Mr Dyer has also spoken to a woman in a care home in said her family used to live next door to a man in Buntingford who used to supply things to the Hoseins at Stocking she was 17 years old, she was woken at 01:00 by a thumping sound and saw him through her window digging with a storm father said he reported it to the police but they dug in the wrong place."She is happy to come from her care home with her daughter and show the scanning team exactly where to scan," said Mr Dyer."If you look at this as a game, we are definitely getting round the board and we are throwing high-number dice now."Incredible, fantastic news". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Mel Gibson movie Ransom inspires family to put up £1million reward for information which helps them find murdered mum's remains
The family of a woman who was kidnapped and murdered in a high-profile case more than half a century ago have offered a £1 million reward to end of the agony of not knowing where her body is. Muriel McKay was snatched from her home in December 1969 after she was mistaken for the wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Brothers Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein were later convicted of the 55-year-old's kidnap and killing, one of the first times a murder conviction was brought without a body. Arthur died while serving time, while Nizamodeen recently provided information about Mrs McKay's alleged whereabouts at the remote Hertfordshire location where she was held. But a search of land at 12-acre Stocking Farm in Stocking Pelham last year failed to reveal her whereabouts. Nizamodeen claims the mother-of-three had been given powerful sedatives and collapsed and died of a heart attack while watching a television appeal for her safe return by loved ones. Now, in a move inspired by the 1996 Mel Gibson movie Ransom, her family – children Ian, Dianne and Jenny, and Dianne's son Mark - are offering the seven-figure sum. It is the same amount the brothers demanded after taking her hostage. In the film, multi-millionaire Tom Cullen thwarts the demands of kidnappers who have taken his son Sean by offering the $2 million sum demanded as a bounty on their heads. 'My mother watched the film and came up with the idea,' property investor and inventor Mark, 60, told the Mail. 'It inspired us to think outside the box a little. This is a ransom for truth. 'We are doing this because we know that my grandmother is buried somewhere and we know there are people that are holding secrets who may now be inspired to come forward to help. 'The Met Police have made it clear that if any other evidence came to light they would be happy to look at it. So, we are asking for someone who's hiding information to come forward.' The reward, which has been provided by unnamed benefactors, is subject to stringent terms and conditions. 'It is very tautly drafted to make it clear that if somebody can provide specific, credible evidence that can be verified by the family, and that results directly in the recovery of remains, that's when it gets triggered,' said McKay family lawyer Sheeva Vahid-Ashrafi. The reward would not be paid if it involved an illegal act, while if multiple individuals provide verifiable and credible information that collectively leads to the recovery of the remains, the reward would likely be divided. Mrs McKay, a native Australian who accompanied her newspaper executive husband Alick to the UK when he came to work here for Murdoch, was snatched from her home in Wimbledon, south west London. Murdoch, who was married at the time to his second wife Anna, an Australian journalist and novelist, had loaned the McKays his Rolls-Royce while he was on holiday. By the time the Hoseins realised they had the wrong woman, they decided it was too late to turn back and took her to Rooks Farm, as it was known at the time, and issued the ransom demand anyway. Attempts to hand over some money failed and she was never seen again. The brothers were jailed for life for blackmail, kidnap and murder following a trial at the Old Bailey in London. A search of the farm took place at the time and again in 2022 and July last year, although the family criticised police for not allowing Nizamodeen to be present to assist with the most recent dig. The killer - now 76 and living in Trinidad, where he was deported after his release from prison – provided information about Mrs McKays whereabouts on the farm after Dianne and Mark flew out to speak to him early last year. But the Metropolitan Police said he cannot enter the UK without Home Office permission as he is a convicted murderer. 'I was twenty‑two when my mother disappeared. In the five decades since, I have married, worked, and raised children,' said Ian, 83. 'Yet I have never once laid a flower on her grave, and my grandchildren recognise her only from photographs. For our family it's a wound that never closes.' Dianne, 85, added: 'There have been times when I have been unbelievably low and wondered if I should just let it all go. 'I always come back to the fact that my mum deserves a final proper resting place. We are doing this for her.' The family have a website which tells the full story of Mrs McKay's tragic disappearance and the family's attempts to find her, alongside the terms and conditions for the reward. 'It's been 55 years since my grandmother was kidnapped and we've been trying to get her back ever since,' Mark said. 'The sad truth is that everyone involved in this case is getting older and we are running out of time.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Muriel McKay's family offer £1m reward to find body
The family of Muriel McKay – who was held hostage and murdered 56 years ago – have offered a £1m reward for information that leads to the discovery of her remains. Mrs McKay's grandson, Mark Dyer, told the BBC the family was inspired by the Mel Gibson movie Ransom to make a last-ditch attempt to solve the mystery. Mrs McKay's body has not been found since she was kidnapped in 1969, taken to a farm in Hertfordshire and killed. Police searched the farm at the time, in 2022 and again in 2024, but Mr Dyer said the family hoped the reward "could provide a new way forward". He said the £1m ($1.35m), which had been supplied by a "benefactor", would not be paid "if finding Muriel involves any illegal act whatsoever". "It's a long shot, but it's a big statement and I think after 55 years – we have been trying to get her back ever since," he added. The reward mirrors the original ransom demand of £1m to return Mrs McKay to her family. She had been mistaken for the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and abducted from her London home on 29 December 1969. Her husband, Alick McKay – Murdoch's deputy - returned home to find her missing. Later that evening, he received a phone call. He was told: "This is Mafia M3. "We're from America, we have your wife. It will cost you a million pounds to get her back. "You'd better get it by Wednesday, or we will kill her." The caller was Nizamodeen Hosein, who was convicted of Mrs McKay's kidnap and murder along with his brother, Arthur. Arthur died in prison. Nizamodeen Hosein later spoke to the McKay family, explaining where he had buried her. The Metropolitan Police interviewed Hosein in 2024 and - despite scepticism about his account - carried out a third dig at Stocking Farm, near Bishop's Stortford. No human remains were found. Mr Dyer said his mother Dianne – Muriel's daughter – had seen the film Ransom and "thought it was an interesting idea to turn it on its head" by offering the same payment that had been demanded in ransom. "We're offering it to anybody who can lead us directly to recovering Muriel's remains. "Someone who feels a flicker of recognition. It could be an old memory. "You may have been living with this for 55 years, you may have been suffering with that knowledge. "There are people perhaps in Trinidad or in prison who were told things over the years. "You could have the courage to rewrite history and give a family that peace that's been denied," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. No human remains found in search for Muriel McKay Muriel McKay killer 'willing' to show where body is Muriel McKay's children make direct plea to Met chief Metropolitan Police
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Muriel McKay family offer £1m reward to find her remains
The family of Muriel McKay – who was held hostage and murdered 56 years ago – have offered a £1m reward for information that leads to the discovery of her McKay's grandson, Mark Dyer, told the BBC the family was inspired by the Mel Gibson movie Ransom to make a last-ditch attempt to solve the McKay's body has not been found since she was kidnapped in 1969, taken to a farm in Hertfordshire and searched the farm at the time, in 2022 and again in 2024, but Mr Dyer said the family hoped the reward "could provide a new way forward". He said the £1m ($1.35m), which had been supplied by a "benefactor", would not be paid "if finding Muriel involves any illegal act whatsoever"."It's a long shot, but it's a big statement and I think after 55 years – we have been trying to get her back ever since," he added. The reward mirrors the original ransom demand of £1m to return Mrs McKay to her had been mistaken for the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and abducted from her London home on 29 December husband, Alick McKay – Murdoch's deputy - returned home to find her missing. Later that evening, he received a phone was told: "This is Mafia M3. "We're from America, we have your wife. It will cost you a million pounds to get her back. "You'd better get it by Wednesday, or we will kill her."The caller was Nizamodeen Hosein, who was convicted of Mrs McKay's kidnap and murder along with his brother, died in prison. Nizamodeen Hosein later spoke to the McKay family, explaining where he had buried Metropolitan Police interviewed Hosein in 2024 and - despite scepticism about his account - carried out a third dig at Stocking Farm, near Bishop's Stortford. No human remains were found. Mr Dyer said his mother Dianne – Muriel's daughter – had seen the film Ransom and "thought it was an interesting idea to turn it on its head" by offering the same payment that had been demanded in ransom."We're offering it to anybody who can lead us directly to recovering Muriel's remains."Someone who feels a flicker of recognition. It could be an old memory."You may have been living with this for 55 years, you may have been suffering with that knowledge."There are people perhaps in Trinidad or in prison who were told things over the years."You could have the courage to rewrite history and give a family that peace that's been denied," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
