'Bar punch death' victim pictured as England flag movement founder charged with his murder
A founding member of Raise the Colours has been charged with the murder of a pub owner, who has since been named and pictured.
Billy Allison, 36, appeared at Stafford Crown Court this week after being charged with murder and Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with an incident in Lichfield on Sunday, 24 May.
Staffordshire Police said officers were called to the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street at 11.25pm following reports that two men had been punched. Allison was arrested just after 5am on Monday (25 May).
One of the men sustained serious injuries and died in hospital on Tuesday (26 May), while the force said the second victim in the assault was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
Advert
As reported by ITV News, the man who died has since been identified locally as Matthew O'Gara, who was director of The Plough pub, another local establishment, in the village of Huddlesford.
Raise the Colours is a movement that has risen to prominence in the UK in recent months, crowdfunding so it can display the Union Jack flag and England flag on lamp posts around the country.
Allison, of Cropthorne Road in Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, is one of the divisive movement’s founding members, Metro reports.
Allison appeared before Judge Avik Mukherjee for an eight-minute hearing on Thursday (28 May), and spoke only to confirm his name when asked by the court clerk.
The court set the date of October 26 for the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
The judge told the defendant that he would next appear in court in September for a plea and trial preparation hearing and would be remanded into custody.
Allison nodded and was taken back down to the cells by a custody officer following the hearing.
Metro reports that O'Gara's mother said in a heartbreaking tribute: ‘My beautiful son taken away from us so suddenly. Dad and me will never get over this. You were too young to leave us. Forever in our hearts.”
While his niece Jade wrote: “My first best friend and my uncle. I will forever keep saying you were the BEST person.”
The Plough confirmed the pub will be closed for a few days, as staff wrote on Facebook: “We just want to say a huge thank you for all the love, kindness and support we’ve received over the last few days,” adding that this has been an ‘incredibly tough time for everyone involved’.
In a post on social media, bar Ricco and Loren, where the incident took place, wrote: "As a small local family business, we are devastated by the events of the last few days.
"We have been working closely with the police in this matter, and we will continue to do so throughout this incredibly sad and difficult time. We are sending all our love, thoughts, and best wishes to everyone affected, we will be closed for a few days to give our staff some time, thank you."
Tyla has contacted Raise The Colours for comment.
Madison Burgess