The family of a "beautiful, vivacious and compassionate woman" have paid a heartfelt tribute to her after she was stabbed to death in Kirkby.
Karen Dempsey, 55, was found with a stab wound to the chest following an incident outside the Brambles pub on Cherryfield Drive in Kirkby at around 8.10pm on Monday (August 22). She was rushed to hospital where she died a short time later.
In a statement, paying tribute to the much loved nan, the family said: "Karen was a beautiful, vivacious and compassionate woman who always had a smile on her face and lit up a room. Her zest for life was infectious and it left others breathless. She loved being surrounded by her family and friends.
READ MORE: Son of woman stabbed in Kirkby charged with her murder
"Karen was dedicated to her work and in helping others she made a real difference to people’s lives. She was a fantastic advocate for social justice for more than 30 years and her loss will be felt right across Kirkby.
"As a family we are devastated by her untimely death, it was her willingness to help that lead to her being cruelly taken from us. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends, her death has left a huge void in our lives. We would like to thank the police for their investigations and the emergency services who fought so hard to save her life.”
Emergency services rushed to Cherryfield Drive on Monday evening and the road remained closed until Wednesday whilst officers carried out their enquiries.
Merseyside Police have charged Karen's son Jamie Dempsey, 32, of Brechin Road, Kirkby with her murder. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Merseyside Domestic Violence remand court on Thursday (August 25).
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