"THEY took an old man's money for their pockets - now it's on their heads." David Ryall spoke bluntly of a bounty to catch those who stole from his Uncle Albert and left him dead.

A year on that defiance has turned to disillusion. He's still waiting to pay out, angry at mystery surrounding the old man's fate.

He won't let what happened be forgotten.

The body of Albert Ryall, 75, was found in the one room he called home at the rambling Hop Pole Inn, Risbury, on November 13, 2000. The pub had been burgled.

His nephew believes he knows who is responsible, and believes the police know who is responsible.

There is just a pressing matter of proof.

Until then the case is consigned to the limbo lying between suspicion and evidence.

Though lacking any 'new lines of enquiry' detectives are adamant their investigation is not over.

A £5,000 reward put up by the Ryalls remains to be claimed. It is offered to anyone whose information leads to conviction.

Albert Ryall could have been anybody's favourite grandad, and looked forward to being so. Family find it easy to imagine what fun he had in store for a youngster in his own childhood surrounds.

The Hop Pole has been in their name since the 1920s, and home to Albert from the age of three.

He spent almost all his life in Risbury. When he went away it was to the Second World War.

Answering his country's call in 1943 this country boy opted for the Royal Navy over army service, the promise of 'three hot meals and a bed' apparently reason enough.

Having survived his ship being torpedoed after D-Day, Albert was assigned to the Pacific theatre where he came through kamikaze attacks and other horrors before hostilities ended.

Returning to Risbury on demob, he cemented his status as a character, running the Hop Pole and living primarily in one room shared by his cat, Pongo.

Failing health

As his uncle's health failed, David Ryall helped keep the bar open, but only on Friday evenings selling beer and cider to locals - it was spoken of as 'more a front room than a pub'.

Later years saw unease creep into Albert's circumstances. Being burgled several times over the past decade, losing even his prized wartime medals, had made him nervous.

David recalls him as objecting to feeling like a 'prisoner in his own home'.

That was where he was found dead when a postman called at 1pm on November 13 last year. A neighbour made the last known sighting of him at 4.30pm the previous day.

It was David who discovered a safe missing. Three foot high and a rusty grey/ green with breastplate and mortice lock, it has stayed outstanding since.

Although a heart attack took Albert Ryall's life, the post mortem revealed bruising consistent with, but not confirmed by, assault.

Operation Apache saw a team of detectives examining various scenarios. But even after forensic assessment, an effort that continued into the early half of this year, it could not be conclusively shown that Albert Ryall died in defence of his home.

It is equally possible that the thieves might have worked around him while he was dead.

Seven men initially arrested were subsequently released on police bail.

So the Ryalls are still waiting for closure. David 'has an idea' who is responsible and is sure that is shared by the investigators.

He is angry that what the 'Germans and Japanese' could not do to the old man his own people did.

"Is this what he fought for?"

While Apache is not currently active, West Mercia police say the case remains open, and old-fashioned 'information received' may just be the breakthrough it needs.

That, though, comes down to conscience - something in scarce supply nowadays.

l Anyone able to help with happened at The Hop Pole, Risbury, between November 12-13 last year can contact Hereford central police station on 01432 276422 or the confidential 0800 555 111 Crime Stoppers line.