Police find body of lover buried in shallow woodland grave after killer finally confesses seven years later

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 11:29 EST, 10 November 2012 | UPDATED: 12:07 EST, 10 November 2012


Police have found a body in the hunt for a man whose disappearance seven years ago resulted in his girlfriend's ex-husband being jailed for murder.

David Guilfoyle, 37, vanished in May 2005 after striking up a relationship with Debbie Fitzpatrick in Accrington, Lancashire.

Ms Fitzpatrick's ex-husband, guillotine operator Shane Fitzpatrick, was jailed for life after a jury convicted him of killing Mr Guilfoyle in a jealous rage.

Trio: David Guilfoyle (left) was in a relationship with Debbie Fitzpatrick (center) but disappeared and Shane Fitzpatrick (right) was sent to prison for his murder

Trio: David Guilfoyle (left) was in a relationship with Debbie Fitzpatrick (center) but disappeared and Shane Fitzpatrick (right) was sent to prison for his murder

Dug up: After Shane Fitzpatrick admitted where he had left Guilfoyle police searched the area and found a body

Dug up: After Shane Fitzpatrick admitted where he had left Guilfoyle police searched the area and found a body

Lancashire Police said on Saturday that the body was discovered yesterday during a search of Admiral's Wood near Bolton by Bowland in Lancashire.

It is believed Fitzpatrick, 42, previously of Hapton, recently confessed his guilt to detectives and told them where he hid the body. The remains were found in a shallow grave.

 

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A police spokesman said: 'We can confirm that officers searching an area of Admiral's Wood near Bolton by Bowland have found a body.

'The discovery was made on the afternoon of Friday November 9.

'The searches were carried out after new information was passed to police about the possible whereabouts of the body of David Guilfoyle.'

Hunting: Police searched the Bolton farmland as they tried to recover the body of Guilfoyle

Hunting: Police searched the Bolton farmland as they tried to recover the body of Guilfoyle

He added: 'Whilst it is too early at this stage to confirm whether the body is that of David Guilfoyle we have specialist officers supporting David's family and they are aware of this development and are being kept fully informed.'

Mr Guilfoyle was murdered at his home in Royds Avenue, Accrington, and despite the absence of his body police found a trail of blood splatterings proving he was attacked there.

Fitzpatrick was convicted of murder in July 2006 and jailed for life with a minimum 20-year term.

Mr Guilfoyle vanished after watching Liverpool win the 2005 Champions League at the Grey Horse pub, Whalley Road, Accrington.

He had driven away in his green Jaguar XK8 convertible but the alarm was raised when later on he did not answer his phone.

Mr Guilfoyle owned a series of properties but was also involved in the criminal underworld and made money selling smuggled cigarettes.

 
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Most importantly...what happened to the Jag ? A Wheeler Dealer episode for sure !

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Upstanding guy according to some. Perhaps if he had not gone with someones wife he would still be alive.

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Stop correcting people when the do not spell as well as others.....it not nice is it?

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Was this need to tell where he buried the body at last, anything to do with his early release from prison

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And it's 'centre', not 'center'. Journalists are not very good at geography or English, it seems!

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Dave was a sound stand up guy who had lots of friends I myself was one ! The above comment makes me feel sick that people with sad life's feel the need to comment on something they know nothing on ? Dave to all who know him was a legend and had to be taken out from behind by a coward who would never have faced Dave ' i hope the I have found religion ! Does not get this low life out eny sooner ! RIP Dave we can now have a furnral miss you pall Mark

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Your reporters don't seem to know much about the geography of the country they live in. Bolton, a fair-sized cotton town near Manchester and Bolton by Bowland, a little village which must 30+ miles away. Does nobody ever check any facts at the Mail? B J

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By the sounds of it there weren't any innocent parties in this love triangle.

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I am sure Mr Guilfoyle's family will be grateful that Mr. Fitzpatrick has finally done the decent thing so that Mr Guilfoyle's remains can be laid to rest.

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Tell me your having a laugh, or are drunk?? What a disgusting comment! Jealous rage was once a defence in France and so it should be today in the UK. There are far to many men languishing in prison who were driven to the same thing by wives and girl friends. - huwwuh, Ammanford, United Kingdom, 10/11/2012 21:42

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