Former footballer Patrick Lacey has been cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not offer evidence against him in a conspiracy to murder case linked to a shooting on Radway Road in Huyton. The incident happened shortly before 10.30pm on November 28. Lacey was one of four men charged after the case came out of a police investigation.
The CPS decision
The procedural point is simple enough. Once the CPS confirmed it was not offering evidence against Lacey, not guilty verdicts were entered in his case.
That leaves the former Liverpool academy midfielder free after a case that had put him before the court alongside three other defendants. The source material identifies him as 33 and gives his address as Manor Avenue in Crosby.
The case still moving forward
Two men remain in the proceedings. John Jones, 35, of Stamfordham Drive in Allerton, and John Hughes, 32, of no fixed address, are still part of the case and are due to stand trial on October 12 before high court judge Mr Justice Bright.
A third defendant, Bernard Flynn, was also cleared, while Jones and Hughes are still listed for the next stage. That keeps the wider investigation active even though Lacey is no longer facing the charge.
Police have also said the work is not over. Detective Inspector Chris Clark of Merseyside Police's firearms investigation team said: "Our work continues, so I would ask that people who have yet to come forward still do so. Please do not assume that we already hold information."
Clark also said: "Our team will make that assessment and will take the appropriate action. Whether you have a first hand account, dashcam, CCTV, doorbell or other footage, come forward."
Those appeals point to the same basic position from officers, the investigation remains open while the court case narrows. The immediate court date left in the case is October 12.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
