Relatives of a young man who was killed in a city centre attack have left touching messages celebrating what would have been his 24th birthday.
Duncan Browne, 23, was attacked by two 'career criminals' on Hanover Street after a dispute over a taxi. Thug Michael McLoughlin punched Duncan to the ground.
Duncan had gone into Liverpool city centre with friends to enjoy England's Euro 2020 quarter final win over Ukraine. Duncan, an Everton fan, suffered catastrophic injuries and died in hospital on July 5 last year, surrounded by his family.
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Now friends and family have left messages to mark what would have been the Kirkby man's 24th birthday. The messages have been left at a plaque celebrating the young man's life.
He became separated from his mates when he headed to a taxi rank on Hanover Street, at around 3.30am. The circumstances surrounding his death left his family and friends devastated.
As his grandad John Browne said, he "went out to watch a football match that night and he never came home".
McLoughlin and his mate Terrence Kerwin, who threw the first punch, were later charged with murder. Prosecutors later accepted McLoughlin's plea of manslaughter and Kerwin's plea to assault causing actual bodily harm.
McLoughlin was jailed for nine years and four months, and Kerwin was handed a 10-month prison sentence, which, due to time served, meant his immediate release.
Families Fighting for Justice is a peer support group for families bereaved by homicide.
It runs The Hub, in Anson Street, off Prescot Street near the Royal Liverpool Hospital, which is a drop in centre with information and support under one roof.
The charity understands the issues affecting a victim's family of homicide or culpable road death and can offer advice and guidance, referral to a network of providers, counselling services, support through the judicial process and more.
For more details on The Hub visit: www.homicidesupporthub.org
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