Nephew’s death and court trial sent him ‘over the rails’
PATRICK Mulcahy blamed his ‘foolish’ actions on increased alcohol misuse after the death of his nephew.
Defence barrister Stephen Wilde told the court that Jamie Mulcahy, who died in December 2015, was ‘like a brother to him’ and that his drinking problems became ‘exacerbated’ when his attacker faced a second trial.
The Free Press reported earlier this year how Jonathan Wrigley, who ran the Wellington pub in Bacup, was convicted after a trial in July 2015 of wounding Jamie Mulcahy during a 20-man ‘fracas’ in the town centre in November 2014.
However, Wrigley, formerly of Todmorden Road, was brought back to Liverpool Crown Court charged with the 26-year-old’s murder after Mr Mulcahy died six months after the conviction.
The 36-year-old was cleared of murder but found guilty by the jury on a 10-2 majority of an alternative count of manslaughter and jailed for 10 years and four months.
Mr Wilde told Preston Crown Court that the trials caused ‘immense problems to the whole family’.
He said: “This is a young man. He had a nephew who he viewed as his brother. The first trial was for a section 18 wounding and when he died because of his injuries there was a second trial for murder.
“Mr Mulcahy’s alcohol use increased because of the second trial which concluded just before the commission of these offences. He was drinking more than he should.
“It perhaps pushed him a little over the rails and caused him to behave in this fashion.
“In respect of the bladed article offence he accepts that he returned home having been drinking to find his flat had been trashed. He had an idea who had done it. He went out and came across these people. He was somewhat dishevelled.
“He accepts that he came across the builders, words were exchanged, he was given some abuse and reacted badly. He went home and picked up the knife and very foolishly went back and waving it around.
“He then picked up the broken pool cue and threw it towards them. He didn’t hit anyone but accepts his actions were foolish.”
The court heard how Mulcahy’s father passed away in April this year while he was on remand in custody. Mulcahy told probation officers that he wants to remain alcohol free.