Rick Neelan was a loan shark who bought Joe McIntyre's debts of £5,000 in November 2009. Rick was unscrupulous in his methods, charging his debtors extra money on a whim and threatening physical violence if they didn't pay up. It soon emerged that Joe had died in the Lakes during his trip with Gail. Rick was questioned by the police but although he was charged with other offences the police were satisfied that he hadn't been involved in Joe's death.