Funeral held for shooting victim

Mr Boland had three children from an earlier relationship

The funeral of a 35-year-old man who was shot dead in front of his family is taking place on Monday.

Masked men burst into Andrew Stephen Boland's home in Brigade Drive, Stretford, Greater Manchester, and shot him dead on 24 March.

The raiders threatened his partner's nine-year-old son with the gun before shooting Mr Boland in the chest. He died at Trafford General Hospital.

The funeral is at 1200 BST at St Mathews Church, Stretford.

Detective Superintendent Tony Cook, of Greater Manchester Police, appealed for members of the criminal underworld to provide information on Mr Boland's killers.

'Cold hearted killers'

He said: "Nearly two months on from Andrew's murder and we are still appealing for those who know who did this to him to come forward and speak to the police.

"I believe there are people out there who know who are responsible, but are concealing something or someone from the police and I would urge them to do the right thing and get in touch.

"The two offenders are cold-hearted killers and don't deserve anyone's protection.

"To threaten a small child with a gun and then shoot a man dead in front of his partner is horrific and these people need to be caught and brought to justice."

Mr Boland had three children of his own from a previous relationship - aged 18 months, seven and 17.

He was living with his partner Angela and her two sons, aged nine and 12, at the time of his death.

Four men - two 26-year-olds and a 28-year-old from Old Trafford and a 23-year-old from Partington - have already been arrested in connection with Mr Boland's death, but bailed pending further enquiries.