Police appeal for information about man murdered in Toxteth 40 years ago

The sister of Jeffrey McNish, who was killed at a festival in Toxteth, has spoken of how her family’s “world was torn apart” as detectives appeal for information 40 years after his murder.

On Saturday 10 August 1985, 22-year-old Jeffrey McNish from Forest Hill, South London, travelled to the Toxteth Caribbean Festival to see his cousin and other members of the Saxon Sound System, who were performing that weekend. Later that evening, Jeffrey was attacked by a group of men armed with cricket bats and stabbed three times at the Toxteth Sports Centre after a dispute involving admission fees escalated into violence between groups from Liverpool and London.

Jeffrey was taken to hospital for treatment but sadly died a week later at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. 

Six men were arrested in connection with Jeffrey’s death. In October 1986, one man pleaded guilty to affray and another pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Both received suspended sentences, but no one has ever been prosecuted for Jeffrey’s murder. 

Marking 40 years since her brother’s death, Jeffrey’s sister Kimberley, who was just six years old at the time, said:

“In August 1985, our world was torn apart for the second time. Just months after losing our mother in May 1985, our big brother Jeffrey was murdered. 

Jeffrey was a loving brother who never minded me tagging along. I remember him holding my hand when our mother died, making sure I felt safe.

The last Christmas I spent with him was in 1984. He surprised me with a huge Sindy House, pretending it was from Father Christmas. That was the kind of brother he was — always thoughtful, always making me feel special. 

To me, Jeffrey was always my fun big brother. I remember the time he took me through a car wash for the first time. He warned me not to open the window, but of course I didn’t listen and ended up soaked while he laughed so hard.

My very last memory of Jeffrey is in our kitchen at home. He told me that when he came back from where he was going, he was going to change his surname to match mine. At the time, I didn’t understand that he was never coming back.

His murder has left a lasting impact on our family. My dad became overprotective, fearful that something terrible might happen to us too. That fear never went away, especially because Jeffrey’s killer has never been found. In 2017, my dad passed away never knowing who was responsible.

We are appealing to anyone who knows anything about what happened to Jeffrey. Please, after all these years, help us find justice for him. Our family has lived with this pain and unanswered questions for decades. We need answers, and we need closure.”

Howard Rubbery, Head of Merseyside Police’s Serious Crime Review Unit, said: 

“Jeffrey’s death has had a profound and lasting impact on his family, particularly his sisters and other close family members, one of whom sadly passed away still searching for answers and justice.

Although 40 years have passed since Jeffrey’s death, there is no time limit on providing information. His sisters are still waiting for the answers they deserve. 

We know there are people who were at the festival that weekend and who know what happened. My appeal is for those individuals to come forward and tell us what they know. 

Do you know who stabbed Jeffrey three times at the Caribbean Festival in Toxteth on Saturday 10 August 1985? Any information you provide will be handled with care and sensitivity, and we can put measures in place to protect anyone brave enough to come forward after all these years.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police by direct messaging @MerPolCC on social media or by calling 101, quoting reference 25001000832.

Find out about Merseyside Police’s other work here.

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