WARNING: Graphic images. Michael Muldoon was rushed to hospital after being attacked on the way to his car
Michael with his daughter, Charlotte Muldoon, 28(Image: Charlotte Muldoon)
A dad is “lucky to be alive” after being attacked following a football match at Anfield. Lifelong Liverpool supporter Michael Muldoon, from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, attended Anfield for the club’s game against Manchester City on December 1.
Shortly after the final whistle, the 54-year-old was walking back to his car to meet his son and friends when he was punched by a man on Arkles Lane. Michael then fell over and hit his head on a curb, leaving him with a “hole in his head.”
Graphic pictures of his wound, shared with the ECHO, show a gaping hole in his head and bandages soaked in blood. Merseyside Police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of assault following the attack and enquiries are ongoing.
Michael’s daughter, Charlotte Muldoon, 28, recalled the “horrific” moment she received a phone call from emergency services alerting her and her mum that Michael was being blue-lighted to hospital.
Charlotte told the ECHO: “After the match had finished my dad was walking back to meet his friends and my brother at the car. He was walking down Arkles Lane when a guy pulled his scarf from behind and hit him in the face and pushed him. He fell and it knocked him out for around five minutes, as he fell he hit his head on the kerb.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
“People who were there helped him. Someone put a scarf on his head to put pressure on the bleeding. Then we got a phone call at about 7pm from a paramedic and me and my mum set off straight to the hospital. We live about an hour and 20 minutes away, it was the longest journey of my life.
“Honestly, it was horrific. We were on the phone to the paramedic on the way there but my dad was confused. He couldn’t speak so he couldn’t tell us what had happened. When he got to the hospital he had his head glued and stapled, but as time has gone on it has not healed, he’s had to get it re-stitched.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. The bandages were left soaked with blood(Image: Charlotte Muldoon)
“He has a literal hole in his head, you could see right through his skull, to his brains. But at the same time this had happened, my brother had been running to find my dad and when he was running he tripped and broke his foot. So I had my dad in hospital and my brother having X-rays on his foot at the same time, it was horrific.”
Charlotte added: “It was such a long long night, it was horrific. My dad has been a season ticket holder for 30 years, he has been all over with the club. He was at Hillsborough, has been to every Championship final, Istanbul, Russia, you name it he’s been there. He has always followed his club and has never had any bother and to be on his home turf walking back to the car on his own and for this to happen, it’s awful.”
Charlotte said passers-by who helped her dad have said he is lucky to be alive. She added: “My dad is resilient and keeps saying he will be fine, but it’s so horrific what has happened.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. The wound Michael suffered following the attack(Image: Charlotte Muldoon)
“He hasn’t been back to football since, it has made him wary, he won’t admit it but he is definitely more anxious and as a family we will be worried about him going again. He is also self-employed so he has taken time off work too.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “At around 6pm, the National Police Air Service witnessed a man being punched by another man on Arkles Lane. The suspect was reported to have then boarded a white-coloured supporters coach called Bullocks Coaches which was parked nearby.
“Police officers attended the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to the victim, who later attended hospital for a serious head injury and is continuing to receive medical treatment. Officers arrested a 21-year-old man from Halifax on suspicion of assault that evening, and the investigation continues into the circumstances of what took place.
Michael Muldoon suffered a serious head injury after he was attacked following a football match at Anfield last month(Image: Charlotte Muldoon)
“Enquiries are ongoing to bring the suspect to justice, and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault and those with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam to please get in touch.”
Operational football officer Robert Jones said: “The victim, a 54-year-old man, was left shocked and seriously injured by this attack and we are urging anyone with information to help us with our enquiries. While we have arrested a man, we are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Arkles Lane and Priory Road at the time to contact us with any information which will assist in the investigation.”
Police are asking residents and visitors for any CCTV, smart doorbell or dashcam footage on Sunday, December 1, around Arkles Lane/Priory Road that may assist the investigation to get in touch. Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC quoting reference 24001014065 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.