BRAVE DAD SAVES WOMAN FROM SAVAGE KNIFE ATTACK BY EX BOYFRIEND
A courageous father recounted how he ran to intervene when a man was attacking his girlfriend with a knife on a bridge in Southport.Simon Mahon was out with his children when he witnessed 22-year-old Ryan Quigley viciously assault his ex-partner Shelby Shearer, aged 18, on Marine Way Bridge in the town.
Quigley had set a trap for her by using their baby to lure her into an ambush.
This week, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court sentenced Quigley to 10 years in prison for his brutal attack.
The court also awarded Mr.
Mahon £250 in recognition of his bravery, which prevented the victim from sustaining even more severe injuries or worse.
It was revealed that Quigley had used their infant son to lure Ms.
Shearer, after discovering she had a new partner.
The 22-year-old attacked her with a knife, slashing her face and attempting to stab her in the head and neck, but the weapon broke during the assault.
During the hearing, it was stated that Quigley had confined Ms.
Shearer on a footbridge and shouted, “If I can’t have you, then neither can he.” Mr.
Mahon, who was walking with his children along Marine Parade, came to her aid.
A senior judge praised his courage for risking his own safety and awarded him £250 as recognition.
He explained to police that he saw a young couple with a pram; he heard the woman scream and recoil from a threatening man.
He recalled: “The male looked around quickly, then swung towards her with his hand near her face.
I saw what seemed like blood, sweat, or some other substance spray out.
He then started hitting her repeatedly.
She was shouting for help.
Realizing he needed to act, I told my children to stay put.
I then ran towards the man, shouting ‘stop!’ and ‘get off her!’” When Mr.
Mahon reached the scene, Quigley had Ms.
Shearer in a headlock.
He managed to pull the attacker away, grab his arms, and push him against some railings.
He told the court: “I asked him, ‘What are you doing?
You’re hitting a woman.’ He replied, ‘I love her, I’m sorry.’” Someone shouted that Quigley had ‘chucked a knife’, though Mr.
Mahon did not see any weapon.
He told Quigley to stay put and went to check on Ms.
Shearer, but another witness held onto the attacker.
Mr.
Mahon said Quigley broke free and ran past his children just as he realized Ms.
Shearer had been stabbed.
He described hearing loud bangs from the bridge, then saw Quigley fall to the ground, apparently hit by a vehicle.
He then saw the girl being cared for and ran towards Quigley, who was now lying on the street.
On approaching, he saw that Quigley’s head was dented and possibly his leg injured.
Quigley was attempting to stand but appeared seriously hurt, so Mr.
Mahon urged him to stay still.
He and another man then helped position Quigley in the recovery position until emergency services arrived.
Afterwards, the brave father comforted his children, who had witnessed part of the ordeal.
Quigley, residing in Southport's Kensington Road, admitted to wounding Ms.
Shearer with intent on March 4 this year.
Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, noted that Ms.
Shearer would bear a scar on her chin, but her facial wound was healing.
Sentencing Quigley to a decade behind bars, the judge also commended Mr.
Mahon’s actions, stating: “His willingness to assist Miss Shearer and confront the armed defendant is admirable and deserves recognition.
The payment of £250 from public funds reflects that sentiment.” Detective Inspector Tony O’Brien expressed relief that Ms.
Shearer was not more severely injured.
He thanked the public for their valuable information during the investigation and emphasized the importance of victims of domestic violence coming forward.
He added that the sentence should provide peace of mind to the victim and demonstrate support for victims of such crimes.
