Family 'cheated' by justice system after father's death

Relatives of father-of-three John Lacy said they were devastated to learn the men involved in the brawl at Haughton Workingmen's Club will be sentenced on a lesser charge.

Committee member Mr Lacy, 65, a former publican at The Globe in Darlington, died from a brain haemorrhage nine days after he stepped in to defuse a fight and was punched in the face and fell to the ground.

Father and son Michael Henry Royal, Michael Douglas Royal and Trenton Hewitt, yesterday admitted at Teesside Crown Court joint charges of affray on May 4 last year.

They denied violent disorder and it was decided it was not in the public interest to pursue a trial on this charge.

Last night, Mr Lacy's son Mark, 41, of Darlington, said: "I feel cheated. It is a waste of time. They said it would save the cost of running a trial. Is that what justice is about, money?

"I just feel completely let down and feel it can't be real.

"My father is dead because of what happened that night."

The court heard the christening party was a drunken occasion which turned sour when Michael Henry Royal jumped on stage to sing and committee members went to intervene.

A "very substantial fight" then broke out, said prosecutor Christopher Knox.

Mr Knox said charges of manslaughter had been considered but there was not a satisfactory basis to secure a successful prosecution.

David Crook, the acting divisional crown prosecutor for Durham South, said: "This was a terrible incident during which a man tragically lost his life. A decision was made that, on the available evidence, it was appropriate to accept the offer of guilty pleas to the charge of affray from the men, who accepted they were the catalyst to the incident in which the man died."

The case was adjourned for sentencing on August 11.

Michael Henry Royal, 41 and Michael Douglas Royal, 19, both of Geneva Road, Darlington, and Hewitt, 23, of Moulton Way, Darlington were all granted bail