Ryan Cullen “went off his head” and battered his 73-year-old Brian Cullen to death because he “wouldn’t give him money for drugs”
A killer asked “is it my grandad?” after being arrested on suspicion of murder at a city centre hotel. Ryan Cullen “went off his head” and battered his own grandfather after watching Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester City with him on the television because he “wouldn’t give him money for drugs”.
Brian Cullen died aged 73 two weeks later as a result of injuries sustained when he was subjected to the brutal assault in his own bed. It came after his grandson, who later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, became afflicted by mental health issues and drug use following the breakdown of his marriage.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Friday, that Ryan Cullen attacked his victim inside his home on Midghall Street in Liverpool city centre on February 10 this year. Brian Cullen later spent six days in hospital before being discharged and “did not want to make a complaint about his grandson” to the police.
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But David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, detailed how the OAP was subsequently readmitted as an inpatient when his health deteriorated and “never did come back out”, passing away on February 24. A post-mortem investigation later revealed a cause of death of “blunt chest trauma with sepsis”.
The court was told that the defendant, of no fixed address, became divorced from his wife around five years previously and since “had significant issues” with cocaine. His nan, Anne Cullen, twice paid for him to enter rehab, however “on each occasion he relapsed and went back to drugs”.
She described how “using cocaine would change her grandson as a person”. The 35-year-old had stayed overnight at his grandparents’ address on the evening before the assault, with “the mood in the house being good” at this time.
Mrs Cullen then left the property at roughly 2.30pm on February, returning just shy of three hours later to find that Mr Cullen had sustained injuries to his chest, face and the back of his head. He told her that he had suffered a fall, but “looked towards his grandson so as to indicate it was in fact him who had caused the injuries”.
She also found damage to her husband’s mobile phone, an extractor fan in the kitchen, the TV aerial and a thermostat. When one of the couple’s daughters, Mandy Cullen, arrived at the scene, she found her dad “slumped on the bed” in his bedroom with “a lot of blood on the headboard behind him”, as well as swelling to the left side of his face and blood pouring from his nose.
Mr McLachlan said: “Brian Cullen was moved from the bed to a chair in the living room as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. The scene was one of complete and utter chaos as family members were in hysterics and screaming.
“When Brian Cullen was on the chair, he was groaning in pain. Mandy Cullen lifted up his shirt and looked for other injuries. She saw that some of his ribs were sticking out.”
Mr Cullen, who declined to be provide a statement to the police or be seen by paramedics, told officers who attended the incident that he had been struck to the side of the head by his grandson and said: “He’s been taking that f***ing stuff. Hasn’t he?”
He stated that Cullen had been “acting weird all day” and “pacing up and down the hallway”. At one stage, he was said to have entered the bedroom and punched him twice to the face without warning.
Mr Cullen was then taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where he was found to have sustained six broken ribs and a collapsed left lung. His attacker was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage at the same hospital shortly after 9am on February 11 while waiting to be seen by the mental health team.
Cullen was escorted out of the premises and “became upset” after being detaining, repeatedly saying “I hit me grandad”. He was also noted to have cuts and reddening to the knuckles of his right hand.
PCs visited Mr Cullen in his hospital bed later the same day and found him with “clear facial injuries”. After being informed of Cullen’s arrest, he said: “He is mental. He takes that stuff, that white powder stuff.
“He went off his head. We had the match on. He’s an Everton supporter. He wasn’t interested in the match and was messing with his phone. I went in the room. He was off his head on that stuff he takes. He banged me head on the headboard and hit me in the face.”
Cullen was meanwhile been admitted to Hollins Park Hospital and told a nurse on February 13 that “his grandad wouldn’t give him money for drugs” and that he “gave him a few punches to the ribs and his head”. He added that “he thought that he had cut his head open” and that he “kept punching him”.
Mr Cullen was then discharged from the Royal on February 16 but readmitted the following day, when a CT scan found he had suffered a bleed on the brain as well as an “acute kidney injury” and suspected sepsis. His condition thereafter deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead in hospital at 1.35am on February 24.
This led to Cullen being arrested again at 4pm the same day on suspicion of murder at the International Inn on South Hunter Street. He responded by asking the police officers “is it my grandad?” and then “became upset”.
Under interview on the evening of February 25, the killer said he had “just lost it, sort of like a split second”. Cullen added “that he had been on a bit of a bender and that his grandad had knocked on saying that Everton were kicking off”.
He recalled that he then took a bag of cocaine out, at which his grandad reportedly said he would call the police. The complainant allegedly “went for him” after he responded by taking his phone from him, at which time he “retaliated and punched him and he fell down”.
Mr McLachlan added of pathologist Dr Matt Lyall’s findings: “In Dr Lyall’s opinion, the blunt chest trauma, causing rib fractures, sustained by Brian Cullen on the 10th of February initiated a sequence of events which ultimately culminated in his death on the 24th of February. It was Dr Lyall’s opinion that, if Brian Cullen was younger, the injuries would have required greater force, but because of his age his bones would be more delicate.
“Therefore, if he had a heavy fall or fell onto a structure then, due to the grouping of the fractures, a single heavy impact could cause those injuries. It is unlikely, in Dr Lyall’s opinion, that a punch would cause those injuries.
“In Dr Lyall’s view, the injuries were more plausible with being sustained by a fall onto an unforgiving surface, for example a table, after being punched. The prosecution say Ryan Cullen has punched his grandfather to the face and Brian Cullen has fallen, most likely onto a table, and that has caused the fractures to the ribs.”
Cullen has previous convictions dating back to 2019, including an offence of harassment in 2020 and subsequently being jailed for 26 weeks for assaulting an emergency services worker. Martin Reid KC, defending, said on his behalf: “Ryan Cullen has demonstrated genuine and continuing remorse for what he has done even from the date of his arrest, given his own words and behaviour.
“We submit that his contrition was immediate and genuine. It is a notable feature of this case that both of his grandparents were very protective of him, raising him and making great efforts to assist him in the difficulties he has faced in recent years. Mr Cullen recognises in his letter to your honour the effect that substance abuse has had on him and his behaviour, and he is motivated to address it.
“We accept that his previous convictions are an aggravating feature. Their timing is consistent with a deterioration in his mental health following the break up of his marriage.”
Mr Reid cited his client’s previous “efforts to manage his addiction” and said: “It is to be hoped that the current arrangements will be more effective in addressing this aspect of his life. There is evidence of continuing difficulties with his mental health. They are, admittedly, linked to his drug use, particularly following the breakdown of his marriage.”
Cullen admitted manslaughter, with a count of further murder having previously been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Appearing handcuffed in the dock for part of the hearing and wearing a black Adidas t-shirt under a black zip-up top, he was handed a five-year section 45a hybrid order.
This will see him treated in a psychiatric hospital, having been detained in Rowan View Hospital for the past nine months, before he is deemed suitable to be moved to a prison. Cullen will then serve the remainder of his sentence behind bars, becoming eligible for release on licence after serving half of the term.
It came after Dr Lowri Hughes gave evidence to the court stating that his “risk was not solely associated with his mental disorder” and was “predominantly associated with his use of illicit substances”, which had “caused him paranoia at times historically”. She added: “He behaves in an adverse way which results in an increased risk of violence. Drug free in hospital, violence has not been a problem.”
Supporters in the public gallery gave the thumbs up and waved to Cullen as he was led down to the cells. Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You have previous convictions for violence. It is true that none of them approaches the seriousness of the present offence. Nonetheless, this is by no means the first time you have assaulted someone.
“Your victim was particularly vulnerable by reason of age and infirmity. He was a small, slightly built, elderly man who was not in the best of health. You, by contrast, are much younger. You are a much taller, stronger and more robust individual.
“I accept entirely that the attack was not premeditated. I accept that you have shown and continue to experience, and will always experience, genuine remorse for killing your grandfather.
“I accept that you have made genuine efforts to seek help to overcome your addiction. Although your mental health is an important topic for the court to take into account, it is not suggested that that provides you with any mitigation for the actual commission of the offence in this case.
“By your own admission and despite knowing the consequences cocaine had on you, you continued taking it. Ultimately, that is your responsibility.
“I do understand that there is a background. I have not lost sight of your own experiences in childhood. Ultimately, you committed this offence under the influence of drugs. You are the person who chose to take the drugs.”
Merseyside Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Andy McCourt said following the sentencing: “This is an absolutely tragic case which has devastated the family and, although Ryan Cullen has today faced justice, we know that such an outcome cannot provide much comfort or healing. Ryan Cullen carried out a violent and unprovoked attack on his vulnerable grandfather Brian who sustained ultimately fatal injuries, resulting in this becoming a murder investigation.
“Domestic abuse can take many forms, and I want to take this opportunity to highlight the help that is available to anyone who is suffering. Together with partner agencies, we will do all that we possibly can to support you if you can find the courage to come forward.
“We have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion. Likewise, I would ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering, as by contacting us you could be helping someone who is too afraid to help themselves. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”
