MANCHESTER police want to speak to Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty about a brawl at a child’s funeral which is said to have involved up to 40 people.
Reports claim the Irish Traveller, who featured in Celebrity Big Brother in 2011, had his teeth knocked out at the funeral of 18-month-old David McDonagh on Tuesday (September 9).
The baby was killed after being run over at a Traveller site in Winsford the previous week.
Douglas Doherty, 19, of the Travellers Rest Caravan Park in Rilshaw Lane, Winsford, has been charged with causing death by driving while uninsured.
Scores attended the funeral service held at Gorton cemetery this week, but things turned nasty when violence erupted and weapons were brought out.
Reports claim mourners took offence when Paddy Doherty turned up for the funeral.
The 56-year-old is also accused of spitting at a pall-bearer during the bust-up, following which his long-running rival Johnny Joyce is said to have knocked his teeth out.
Greater Manchester Police Detective Inspector Dan Clegg said: “We believe this incident was the result of an on-going dispute between groups so I do not want people in the community to be unduly alarmed and think that this was a random incident.
“Nevertheless, the fact that weapons and violence were reported at a funeral of a young child is clearly shocking and we have launched an investigation.”
He added: “We have had reports that some people who attended this funeral suffered injuries, and we will now be speaking to as many witnesses as possible who are spread across the north west region in the coming days to build up a picture of exactly what happened and who was involved.”
Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed they are seeking to speak to Mr Doherty ‘as a witness’.
