'Ban these evil weapons'

• Fill in the form below to support the McAleer family's campaign to ban weapons like the knife pictured. Click here to read the comments we've received so far.

Gavin McAleer, far left, with his family	The knife that was used to kill Gavin

The family of murder victim Gavin McAleer is calling for a complete ban on the sale of evil weapons like the knife used to kill their much-missed son, brother and uncle.

Their campaign comes as the man responsible for Gavin’s death, 27-year-old Gerard Robert McKeown, begins a life sentence for his murder, which happened in the car park of The Vaults pub on September 1 last year.

McKeown was jailed for a minimum of 12 years at Chester Crown Court after admitting slashing and stabbing his 27-year-old victim 16 times with a double bladed knife.

The family are joining police in a campaign to stop the sale of knives and weapons like this.

“Our main concerns now are that this type of knife be banned.

“The weapon is horrendous and it’s only purpose would be to cause horrific injuries such as those suffered by our Gav.

“The fact that this weapon is available is extremely disturbing.

“We will be contacting our MP and campaigning to have this evil weapon banned totally from sale.

Gerard Robert McKeown must serve a minimum of 12 years

“We would ask any person also shocked that this type of weapon can be purchased to write to their local MP requesting it be outlawed.

“We are aware that the police are also campaigning to the same end.

“We hope that by campaigning to have this type of weapon banned that no other person will suffer the horrific injuries our son suffered.”

Det Sup Jed Manley, from Cheshire Police, said: “I’ve forwarded details of the knife, the fact that it’s available publicly and the fact that it has no legitimate use whatsoever to Ann Winterton MP to raise it at her level and see if she wants to take it further.

“I think that type of article has no place being sold publicly and there’s no reason why it should be.

“Our expert said it was of a display or fantasy type but if it is just for display in a cabinet, why doesn’t it have plastic blades?”

• The Guardian is backing the McAleer family’s plea for these weapons to be banned and would welcome your comments of support, which we will collect and send to Congleton MP Ann Winterton. To support the campaign fill in the form below.