Former professional footballer Patrick Lacey has been cleared of all charges relating to a shooting incident in Huyton last November. The 33-year-old, who previously played for Accrington Stanley and spent time in the youth academies of Liverpool FC and Manchester United, was found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) opted not to offer evidence against him.
Mr. Lacey, of Manor Avenue in Crosby, had been facing a series of grave allegations, including the attempted murder of Leejay Heavey and conspiracy to murder Jordan “Dusty” Thompson. He also faced charges concerning the possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, as well as conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Following the decision by the CPS during a hearing on September 25, not guilty verdicts were formally entered on his behalf.
Bernard Flynn, 61, of Knowsley Road in Bootle, who was also charged alongside Mr. Lacey in relation to the same investigation, was cleared of identical charges during the same hearing.
The charges stemmed from a violent incident on November 28 of last year on Radway Road, Huyton. Reports indicate that at approximately 10:30 p.m., a man in his 20s was critically injured after being shot with a sawn-off shotgun by two individuals riding a Sur-Ron electric bike. Following a series of police raids across Liverpool, Knowsley, and Sefton in February, four men were initially charged in connection with the attack.
While Mr. Lacey and Mr. Flynn have been acquitted, the legal proceedings continue for the remaining two defendants. John Jones, 35, of Allerton, and John Hughes, 32, of no fixed address, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from prison on Monday for a pre-trial review. Both men are scheduled for a further hearing on October 5, where the court will consider an application to amend the indictment. Their trial is slated to commence on October 12, presided over by high court judge Mr. Justice Bright.
Patrick Lacey’s career has spanned multiple disciplines, including spells at various football clubs such as Barrow, Southport, Chester, and Warrington Rylands. Beyond his footballing life, he had recently transitioned into professional boxing, having fought at the M&S Bank Arena as recently as February.
Merseyside Police continue their investigation into the November shooting and have reiterated their call for members of the public to come forward with any relevant information, including dashcam or doorbell camera footage that may assist with the ongoing case. Detective Inspector Chris Clark, of the force’s firearms investigation team, emphasized that the police’s work is far from over, urging anyone with first-hand knowledge of the incident to contact the authorities.
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