![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Michael-Rainsford-Snrholding-a-photograph-of-his-sonMikey-Rainsford-Jnrwho-was-shot-dead-at-home.j.jpeg\")
Michael Rainsford Snr(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nMichael Rainsford Snr campaigned for years after his son was shot dead at home<\/p>\n
09:04, 11 Jul 2025Updated 09:04, 11 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
Michael Rainsford Snr(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
A “superhero” dad who spent years campaigning for justice after his son was shot dead at home has died, his family has announced. Michael Rainsford Snr spent the last five years trying to get justice after police failed to arrest one of the gunmen who shot his 20-year-old son Mikey Rainsford in the months leading up to the murder.<\/p>\n
Mikey Rainsford was shot twice while standing in the kitchen of his home on Harrington Road in Litherland<\/a> by brothers James and Michael Foy in a revenge attack for something he had nothing to do with<\/a>. The Foys, members of Linacre Young Guns gang, shot Mikey less than an hour after a brick had been thrown through their mum’s window <\/a>on April 7, 2020.<\/p>\n Both men were convicted of murder the following year – but Mikey’s dad, Michael Rainsford Snr, repeatedly claimed Merseyside Police had information which tied James Foy to another firearm found by officers during a search of a Bootle home<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n Michael provided the ECHO with the IOPC’s written report earlier this year which revealed there was no reason why James Foy was not arrested before the murder.<\/p>\n In their written findings, the IOPC investigator said: “Having reviewed the available evidence, it is my view that there does not appear to be any reason provided that justifies why the arrest [of James Foy] could not and should not be made prior to the murder.”<\/p>\n The police watchdog investigator added it was their view that a detective “has a case to answer for misconduct…for breach of the standards of professional behaviour for duties and responsibilities”.<\/p>\n Michael told the ECHO this year: “This is obviously big news in my journey to get justice for Michael. I have had to fight to get these answers from the police who have always had the answers.”<\/p>\n In a tribute on Facebook<\/a>, his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved father, brother, uncle and grandfather, Michael Rainsford Snr. He was more than just a dad; he was our superhero, our guiding light, and the kindest soul we ever known.”<\/p>\n Daughter Rachel Jones said on Facebook: “Tonight we said goodbye to our dad. He was surrounded by his sprogs and his family.<\/p>\n “He has been such a pillar to our family and to other families over all these years. He is reunited with Mikey, Abbie, uncle Tony, nana and pop.<\/p>\n “You fought such a strong fight dad and I am incredibly proud of you. Thank you to everyone that have been there for us all, he was loved by so many people. Until we meet again dad.”<\/p>\n Recently he attended the local premiere of Tim Edwards and John May’s film. Tim Edwards’s daughter, Elle Edwards, 26, was murdered in a shooting<\/a> outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey<\/a> Village in December 2022.<\/p>\n Days after her murder, her grieving dad, 53, got in touch with Liverpool actor John May, who was preparing to walk from Lands End to John O\u2019Groats as part of a campaign to end gun and knife crime<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mr Edwards joined him for the walk at Worcester, initially just to “get out of town”, but ended up accompanying him all the way to the top of Scotland, later travelling down south to complete the first leg of the walk.<\/p>\n![\"Mikey](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Michael-Rainsford_02-1.jpg\")
Mikey Rainsford(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_The-Two-of-Us-Premiere-at-The-Light-Cinema-ExperienceNew-BrightonWirralwith-Tim-Edwards-and-John.j.jpeg\")
Tim Edwards (3rd left), with (L-R) Michael Rainsford Snr, Carolyn Cox, Julie Dale, Cheryl Korbel and Joanne Rimmer(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n