Graham Daly has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for the killing of his 70-year-old mother, Phyllis Daly, after being arrested in a pub. The 45-year-old appeared via video link from Ashworth Hospital at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, where he denied a charge of murder but admitted the lesser offence.
Guilty plea accepted by prosecution
Phyllis Daly was found dead inside a house on Clent Road in Maghull on July 13, 2025, having suffered “significant injuries”. Emergency services were called shortly after 1pm following reports of a domestic incident, but the pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son Graham Daly was initially charged with murder in February 2026.
During the hearing, Peter Glenser KC, prosecuting, stated: “That plea was indicated to the crown a little while ago. We have considered that carefully at a senior level within the Crown Prosecution Service. It is acceptable to the crown.” Referring to psychiatric reports prepared in advance, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said he “completely understood and agreed with that decision”. Glenser added: “It couldn’t really have been a clearer case of its type.”
Remanded in custody pending sentencing
Daly, represented by Nick Johnson KC and Louise McCloskey, was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing on August 19, 2026, when a sentencing date will be set. Judge Flewitt told Daly: “There is no longer any need for a trial. There will be a further hearing on the 19th of August, when I will set a date for your sentence. Until then, you must remain where you are.”
Daly was arrested at the Stanley Arms in Aughton the same afternoon as his mother’s death and was detained under the Mental Health Act, remaining in a secure hospital since the incident.
Tributes to victim
Following Phyllis Daly’s death, neighbour Brenda Tanner, 81, described her as her “best friend” and said: “She was wonderful, she was absolutely wonderful. I'm going to miss her so much. Every day she was in here. She'd always ask what I wanted from the shop, she looked after me really well. She was very helpful and very giving, she worried more about others than she did herself. She was just wonderful.”
Merseyside Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Alan Nuttall said: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the woman's family, and they will be fully supported by specialist officers in the coming days and weeks. The community too will feel the shock and upset of this incident, and officers remain at the scene to hopefully provide reassurance and help carry out the initial stages of the investigation. We are in the very early stages of our investigation but this is currently being treated as a domestic incident in which the suspect and victim knew each other, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”
