DETECTIVES investigating the double murder of underworld ‘Mr Big’ Paul Massey and ‘mob fixer’ John Kinsella believe a spate of violent attacks are linked to the killings.

Hailed a ‘year of chaos’, a catalogue of crimes unfolded as a once united gang spilt into two rival groups.

Here we look at the timeline of how violence erupted, resulting in the cold-blooded killings of two men:

February 18, 2015

Police investigate a car shooting in Salford after a 23-year-old man was injured in the incident.

March 21, 2015

Two men were attacked with a machete when leaving a party in Agecroft.

One of the victims suffered horrific injuries, inflicted by a gang of masked men.

May 30, 2015

A relative of one member of the organised crime gang was targeted at their home during the early hours.

The culprits threw stones at the front window of the property to attract the victim’s attention.

Then, as they walked into the living room, a grenade was launched at the window.

Fortunately, the device exploded outside of the property and nobody was seriously injured.

May 30, 2015

Around 15 hours after the grenade attack, a reprisal assault has taken place.

A man was shot at a car wash in Wigan.

Three of the bullets struck the victim.

July 26, 2015

The murder of Mr Massey

Warrington Guardian:

PICTURED: Police at the scene of Mr Massey's murder

August 12, 2015

Fellows was shot in Weaste, The bullet narrowly misses his elderly grandmother.

August 28, 2015

Mourners were attacked at Mr Massey’s funeral

Warrington Guardian:

PICTURED: Mourners at Mr Massey's funeral

October 12, 2015

A seven-year-old child and his mum were shot on the doorstep of their house in Salford.

February 16, 2016

A number of arrests were made in Spain on suspicion of firearms offences

April 29, 2018

The aborted murder attempt of John Kinsella

May 5, 2018

The murder of John Kinsella in Rainhill.

May 30, 2018

Mark Fellows arrested at Manchester Airport while on his way home from a holiday in Amsterdam

Warrington Guardian:

PICTURED: Mark Fellows

June 2, 2019

Steven Boyle arrested in a hotel in Bolton after booking in under a false name

November 26, 2018

The trial of Marks Fellows and Steven Boyle begins at Liverpool Crown Court.

It would last for five weeks

January 16, 2019

The jury finds Fellows guilty of the murder of Mr Massey and Mr Kinsella.

Boyle found guilty of the murder of Mr Kinsella but cleared of the other killing.