EMMERDALE fans are overjoyed after abusive dad Paul Ashdale died - finally putting an end to his storyline. The gambling addict - who is played by actor Reece Dinsdale in the ITV soap - died on his wedding day after being hit by Jimmy King’s van, crushed under a falling barn beam and caught up in an explosion. 6 Emmerdale's Paul Ashdale has met his end - finally Viewers know Paul has been abusing his son Vinny for months to force him to keep his gambling a secret. But this week Vinny’s girlfriend Liv Flaherty discovered the truth and was determined to expose him.