A father and his two sons have been sentenced for a violent attack at a wake that left a lorry driver with a permanent facial scar and glass fragments in his eye. Liam Redmond snr, Liam Redmond jnr, and Luke Redmond admitted affray at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.
Attack at Prenton Golf Club
The incident occurred on October 17, 2024, at Prenton Golf Club in Wirral. The wake had been peaceful until staff heard shouting in the bar area. Manager Kate Verdin-Walsh found 12 to 15 people in a circle, with two men arguing. Liam Redmond snr was shouting at another man who was trying to back away.
After being calmed down, the 61-year-old and his sons were escorted out. However, Redmond snr then pulled another man to the floor near the exit, sparking a large-scale fight. A pint glass thrown into the crowd hit Ms Verdin-Walsh in the head, causing a lump that required hospital treatment.
Injuries to mourners
Witnesses described Redmond snr pressing his thumb into the eye of another man and striking a man called Billy before shoving his thumbs into his eyes. When Carl Hancox intervened, all three defendants attacked him, punching and kicking him while he was on the floor.
William Donaldson, who ran to protect his nephew, was struck multiple times and had his eyes gouged. He suffered a split nose that required nine stitches and was left with shards of glass in his eye. In a statement read to the court, he said he no longer goes out much and gets nervous about strange places and people.
Sentencing
Liam Redmond snr has 16 previous convictions for 24 offences, including a 2022 community order for affray at a wake in 2021. His barrister said he suffers from emphysema and receives Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment.
Liam Redmond jnr, 25, and Luke Redmond, 23, had no previous convictions. Their barristers noted they had not reoffended and were remorseful. Judge Garrett Byrne sentenced Redmond snr to nine months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months, with rehabilitation and alcohol monitoring requirements. The sons received 12-month community orders with unpaid work. All three were ordered to pay £250 each in compensation to Mr Donaldson.
Judge Byrne said: "This was, on any view, an entirely disgraceful event. All three of you should be ashamed of yourselves. What was supposed to be a solemn and respectful event descended into something akin to a bar room brawl."
