Man Utd Star's Brother Charged with Attempted Murder After Shooting

Patrick "Paddy" Lacey, the 32-year-old older brother of Manchester United youth starlet Shea Lacey, has been charged with attempted murder alongside three other men in connection with a shooting in Huyton, Liverpool.

On November 28, 2025, at around 10:20 pm, a man in his 20s was shot twice in the leg by two men on a Sur-Ron bike in the Huyton area. The victim was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.[1]

Merseyside Police confirmed the charges on Friday, February 20, 2026, following coordinated warrants executed across Knowsley, Sefton, and Liverpool on Thursday, February 19. This led to the arrest of four suspects.[1]

Charged alongside Lacey are John Aaron Jones, 35; John George Patrick Hughes, 31; and Bernard Flynn, 61. All four face multiple serious offenses, including:

• Attempted murder
• Conspiracy to murder
• Possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life
• Section 18 Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)
• Conspiracy to cause GBH

Paddy Lacey, a professional boxer, is set to appear at Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, and St Helens Adult Remand Court on Friday, February 20, along with his co-accused.[1]

Detective Inspector Chris Clark from Merseyside Police’s Firearms Investigation Team stated: “These coordinated warrants were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation, and all four men will appear in court today. Our work continues, so I would ask that people who have yet to come forward still do so... Whether you have a first-hand account, dashcam, CCTV, doorbell or other footage, come forward.”[1]

The incident has shocked the local community and drawn attention due to Lacey's family ties to Manchester United, though Shea Lacey, a promising academy player, is not implicated.[1]

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