Father stabbed man outside nightclub in 'revenge attack' as daughter watched and laughed

A dad repeatedly stabbed a man outside a nightclub while his daughter watched and laughed, a court heard.

Conor McQuade, 44, and his daughter Charlotte, 21, cried as they said goodbye to their family as they were jailed for the bloody 'revenge attack'. The pair appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on assault charges following a attack outside The Hub in Widnes, Cheshire at around 2am on January 1, 2024.

The dad-of-two, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, had been called to the scene by his daughter after she spotted victim Lewis Reed inside the nightclub, the Liverpool Echo reports. The incident followed an allegation against Mr Reed that Charlotte McQuade had made in 2020.

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He denied the allegation and no action was taken against him. Judge Garrett Byrne said the dad and daughter held a "deep-seated grudge" against Mr Reed.

Conor McQuade, of Appleby Walk, Widnes, pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of possession of a blade in a public place. Charlotte McQuade, of Lancaster Road, Widnes, denied a similar charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was found guilty following a trial in November.

Phil Tully, defending Charlotte McQuade, said his client suffered from mental health problems and was "vulnerable", "highly suggestible and easily led". He said: "It's clear that she's someone who experienced numerous traumatic events as a child which has resulted in her having to deal with mental health issues. The information from Cheshire Police reveals an extensive history of violence and domestic abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect."

He said Conor McQuade had played the "leading role" in the attack, adding: "She was aware that her father, at some point, was armed with a weapon or knife, and was going to use it to cause grievous bodily harm to Lewis Reed, but there's no evidence she played any part in the actual assault."

Judge Garrett Byrne said: "Although it was opportunistic to a degree, I'm satisfied this offending can be characterised as of significant planning. The defendants communicated at some length to make arrangements for the attempt. They spoke at length outside the venue, Conor McQuade hid the knives so he would not be stopped by security, and you both spoke again outside the pub. You, Conor, took steps to dispose of the knives and your phone. There was use of a highly dangerous weapon and the motive, for both of you, was revenge."

He sentenced Conor McQuade - who has 37 convictions for 67 past offences - to a total of six years in prison, with an extended two years on licence to protect the public from risk of serious harm. He said: "You do meet the statutory test for dangerousness. A determinate sentence is insufficient to address the risk you pose."

Sentencing Charlotte McQuade, he said: "I have thought carefully on the submissions made on your behalf but I disagree with them. You, with calls and messages, alerted your father to Lewis Reed's presence. I'm satisfied you did that knowing perfectly well what was to occur.

"You had a conversation with him outside. You were seen on CCTV indicated to your father where Lewis Reed was standing. Although you yourself didn't wield the knife, and might not have known exactly how your father planned to do it, I'm satisfied you knew your father was to cause very serious injury to Mr Reed and that was your intention. I therefore see no reason for treating you any different from your father.

"You do have significant mitigation. You have a good character. There's the issue of your youth - you were 20 at the time of the attack - and you have a low level of maturity. You have expressed genuine remorse for what happened to Lewis Reed. I accept you have had a very difficult upbringing which has resulted in ongoing mental health issues, although I don't accept your mental health issues had a significant impact on your culpability."

He sentenced her to five years in prison, and also made a restraining order banning both her and her father from contacting Mr Reed. The dad and daughter embraced in the docks as they were jailed. Members of the public gallery broke down in tears and shouted "I love you Charlotte" as the 21-year-old was led away.