The mother of a young man murdered while celebrating his 21st birthday has said she is "grieving the person he would have become". Sam Cook would have turned 30 this week if his life had not been cut short after he was stabbed in the heart by Carl Madigan in Liverpool city centre's Empire nightclub nine years ago.
Sam's mum, Gill Radcliffe, told the ECHO that she spends much of her time reliving the events of that night, which has become more poignant this year as his family cannot celebrate his milestone birthday. The 60-year-old, of Aintree, said: "Sam is forever stuck at 21.
"I wonder if he would have had a baby, got married, got a nice house. He was always such a loving lad. He was only 21 but he was finding his feet. He was working with his dad and was already a director at the company.
"He would have flourished. He had a lot to give. It was the start of the rest of his life. That was stolen from him and from us. We are grieving for the person he would have become."
A Night Out That Ended in Tragedy
Sam, from Crosby, was a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter who loved his friends and family, with two brothers on his dad's side. He had been in the city centre celebrating his birthday with his family before moving on to the now-closed Empire nightclub on Seel Street.
It was there that he encountered Madigan, of Garston, a violent man with a history of knife crime including a conviction for a machete attack. The disturbance began when Madigan's friend bumped into Sam's girlfriend, prompting the young man to tell him not to be so rude.
Sam's girlfriend was hit in the face with a glass, while Sam was stabbed with a knife that Madigan had taken from an apartment he was staying in and stashed in his sock. Madigan was later captured on CCTV re-enacting the killing for friends and mimicking Sam's injuries.
Justice and Its Aftermath
Madigan, then 23, admitted manslaughter but denied murder. However, a jury convicted him and he was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison, with a judge branding the murder a "truly wicked crime committed by a very dangerous young man".
Gill said after she saw Madigan sent to prison for life she never wanted to think about him again. But in recent months she has been forced to see his face again after videos of him in prison as a drill rapper were leaked onto social media.
She told the ECHO: "It's made it particularly hard. He should have been dealt with but it feels like it is being thrown in our face. It's not acceptable. Seeing the videos when I go on social media makes me relive it all again.
"I have tried to not think about him but seeing his face makes it hard. I should not have to come off social media. I should not be scrolling and seeing that. It's particularly upsetting for us all. It's the highest form of torture."
Remembering Sam's Life
On Monday, Gill, Sam's family and his friends gathered for a meal to celebrate his life. Gill said she takes some comfort from seeing how Sam's friends have grown into young men with families of their own.
She said: "We are so lucky that he had so many lovely friends. His friends are always checking in on me and making sure I am OK. He would be so proud of the men they have become."
Gill said Sam's friends continue to come and tell her stories and memories. To ensure Sam's memory lives on, they have all said that their child will have "Sam" as a middle name. She said: "His friends always make time for me. I'm in awe of them."
A City's Shock and a Mother's Mission
Sam's murder was particularly shocking because of its location and callousness. It prompted calls for tougher security in late-night venues and for better understanding of the dangers and consequences of weapons-related crime.
Gill said: "The whole city was shocked by what happened to Sam. It was shocking for people that your child could go out on a night out and not come home again."
October is a particularly difficult time for Gill and she has taken time off work. But she wants to keep talking about her son and what happened to ensure people remember him and his story. She told the ECHO: "Liverpool has some bad eggs, but it has far more lovely people who have supported us through this. I need to keep Sam alive in people's memories. I want people to know what happened to him."
