A drug dealer glassed a man who accidentally fatally stabbed his own mum as she tried to stop the violence outside a pub.
Brian Flynn launched a pint glass at Jamie Dempsey's head in the Brambles pub, in Kirkby, over an unpaid drug debt. However, Dempsey then went on to stab Flynn outside, but also fatally knifed his 55-year-old mother Karen Dempsey in the heart as she intervened.
Flynn appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (May 12) to be sentenced for his part in the tragic incident. Dempsey was previously cleared of murder by a jury but was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 19 years, the ECHO reports.
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A court heard that the mum and son had made arrangements to meet for a drink in the pub on the evening of August 22, 2022. Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, described how 32-year-old Dempsey - of Brechin Road, in Kirkby - had raised concerns about potentially seeing Flynn there due to previous animosity between the two in the area.
Jurors heard during his trial that 39-year-old Flynn, of Dagnall Road, 'was cross with him because he had run up an unpaid drug debt of some £2,000'.
Messages Dempsey had sent to his mother from his girlfriend's phone beforehand described him as a 'd***head' who had 'dropped him outside the Tavern', although he said he was not 'a***d about it'.
CCTV footage from inside the bar showed Ms Dempsey sat with friends from around 7.30pm on the night in question. Flynn meanwhile was situated at a table nearby, unbeknown to her.
Dempsey and his partner Sarah Van Maren entered around 10 minutes later and joined her but, 'moments later', Ms Dempsey went into the foyer to call a taxi - he having apparently spotted the other man inside. Shortly after 8pm, Flynn returned from the toilets and hurled a glass at him, hitting him on the back of the head.
He then followed up this assault with several punches. Ms Dempsey and others managed to restrain him, but he picked up a second glass and again threw it at Dempsey who left via the back door.
Dad-of-five Flynn was escorted out of the front exit onto Cherryfield Drive. Dempsey then began walking towards this area and another confrontation broke out.
The pair began to grapple with Dempsey now clutching a knife in his right hand. He repeatedly stabbed Flynn before a man, referred to in court only as "Male A", and Ms Dempsey attempted to intervene.
The weapon 'made contact' with her chest at this point, leaving her with blood pouring down her dress. She collapsed moments later, the knife having pierced her heart and liver. Ms Dempsey was rushed to Aintree Hospital but was pronounced dead at 9.45pm.
A 'heavily bloodstained' Flynn was stopped by police nearby and arrested. He too was taken to hospital after suffering significant injuries including a punctured lung, with the most serious stab wound being delivered to his left armpit.
Having fled, Dempsey walked to his aunt's house and told her there had 'been a fight and he had stabbed his mother'. He took off his clothing and asked his cousin to burn it although the relative did not do so.
The knifeman then went to an off-licence and bought cans of beer. Later, Dempsey was dropped off at Kirkby Police Station by a friend.
While the police station was closed, he phoned Merseyside Police 'to tell them where he was and that he was wanted' - not yet knowing that he had killed his mum. During this call, he said he had used a piece of glass and not a knife during the incident and claimed to have acted in self-defence after being attacked by Flynn.
Mr Bisarya said: "The incident took place in a busy public house. In a nutshell, but for the actions of Mr Flynn initially throwing the glass, it is likely that Karen Dempsey would have taken that taxi home."
Flynn has a total of six previous convictions, including being imprisoned for 20 months in 2016 for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
Kate Morley, defending, told the court: "Mr Flynn accepts full responsibility for instigating the violence in that public house. He never envisioned that it would result in such tragic circumstances.
"He accepts the role he played in a shocking, terribly sad incident. With the benefit of hindsight, he has huge regret. He is ridden with guilt. Alcohol is a catalyst for his behaviour. He has made efforts to sort his life out."
Flynn admitted affray during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 20 months.
Sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC said: "He owed you money over a drug debt, money which he had not paid - which I am entirely satisfied was, in your book, a mark of disrespect which you were not going to allow to be tolerated. Without any warning to him, you threw a glass at him.
"You tried to attack him further, and, it was Karen Dempsey who held you back and held the two of you apart. As he retreated, you reached for a second missile which you launched at him. After a short time, both of you left through different doors. It seems he saw you before you saw him.
"He began to make his way to confront you, but you couldn't wait to get at him. It obviously was a consensual fight, you were only too happy to get involved.
"He stabbed you a number of times. When off-balance, as he tried to stab you again, his momentum caused him to turn through about 90 degrees and the knife went into his mother's chest. She was mortally wounded. You, however, were the target.
"Although your conduct does not make you legally responsible for Karen Dempsey's death, it is unarguable that your decision to attack Jamie Dempsey inside the pub and your decision to resume the fight outside are factors which led to her death.
"But for your conduct, she would still be alive. This was the use of serious, sustained violence. The context here is you were not wishing to be disrespected, to enforce your position. You do understand the consequences of your actions and the fact that you bear responsibility, morally at least, for Karen Dempsey's death."
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