Teen told parents 'I won't be long' then never came home from pub

Parents of a teen have told how he said "I won't be long" as he headed off to the pub before being brutally stabbed to death.

Matthew Daulby, from Lydiate, Merseyside, was hit over the head before being on July 29, 2023, in Ormskirk as a mass brawl broke out between groups of men from the Lancashire town and Maghull. He had gone to the town with nine others after receiving a message to a group chat from a friend who had been assaulted while on a night out.

The two groups met on Railway Road, near Alpine Bar in Ormskirk, before a fight broke out. Matthew received a blow to the head with a rock before being in the chest by another man. Then he made his way to Moorgate where he collapsed as he bled heavily. He was rushed to Aintree University but was pronounced dead at 1.25am.

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have paid tribute to their youngest son who they said "had everything to live for" and had a holiday booked for Ibiza the following Friday. In March this year, Harry Houghton, 19, of Barrison Green, Scarisbrick, was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years at Preston Crown Court. A jury rejected his claim that he was not part of the planned attack.

Speaking to the from their home Gary said: "He was just a young teenager who was making his way in life and we were enjoying watching him grow into a young man." Angela added: "He was very caring, he was very loving, he was polite. He had an absolute zest for life. He absolutely loved everything that he did.

"We’re a very close family and did a lot of things together, he had a large group of friends, he had a girlfriend. He had everything to live for, he was only just 19 and not long left school. He was looking forward to his first boys' holiday. He was looking forward to his first trip to Ibiza, a thing every 19-year-old wants to do."

Gary continued: "The tickets were booked on that Friday for all the events in Ibiza, his clothes were folded and ready. His case was practically packed and ready to go. Then he went out the door after dinner and that was the last time we saw him apart from when we went to the hospital."

Angela said: "He actually said ‘I won’t be long’. That’s what he said, ‘I won’t be long’." In Matthew's memory, the family are in the process of creating a charity in his name, looking to aid the education of young people on the effect knife crime has. They aim to educate children locally and are looking to introduce more modern ways of interacting with them. They have begun working behind the scenes as they develop the Matthew Daulby Foundation and create a "defined focus".

Gary, who worked with Matthew, would drive them both to work and would spend their lunch breaks together, said: "We have photographs everywhere. It’s difficult because it’s all so raw for us so when we do start to talk about it we kind of fall apart a little bit. But there are moments where we think of the great times."

Angela said: "He was a really funny individual so we laugh about the funny things he used to do and I guess what I miss the most is the noise. The noise of him running up and down the stairs, the noise of him playing his music and being around and spending time with his brother because they did everything together."

Gary continued: "He had a great life, we did everything, holidays and family things. We have such a big extended family that’s been affected by this."

Thomas Dures is urgently wanted in connection with the murder and is believed to have fled to Spain, Lancashire Police confirmed earlier this month. A £20,000 reward has been offered jointly by Crimestoppers and the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office for any information that leads to his arrest.

DCI Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police's Force Major Investigation Team, said at the beginning of the month: “It has now been over 12 months since Matthew’s murder and although one man has been found guilty, his family’s wait for justice goes on. Thomas Dures has known that my officers have wanted to speak to him for some time and while Matthew’s family continue to search for answers about what happened that night, Dures is out there and knows we want to speak to him.

“While I believe it is high time Dures does the right thing and hands himself in, I still have officers in the UK and our National Crime Agency/ Interpol colleagues searching for him. As part of those searches, I am asking for the public in Spain to get in contact with Crimestoppers if they see Dures or have information on his whereabouts. I want to make it clear, that unusually the public only need to provide information that leads to Dures’ arrest.”

Neil Keeping, NCA Regional Manager in Spain, said: “Dures has known links to Spain and could be living anywhere in the country. We are therefore appealing to people who reside in Spain and visiting holidaymakers to come forward with any information relating to his whereabouts.

“It has been over a year since Matthew Daulby’s life was taken in tragic circumstances, and we are actively working with our partners here in Spain to locate Dures, who may be able to assist Lancashire Police detectives with their ongoing investigation."

Gary Murray, North West Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “We know it can be difficult to give information directly to the police, especially when it involves dangerous criminals. This is why Crimestoppers exists as we guarantee you stay 100% anonymous when you pass on what you know. We are here 24/7 via our website or by calling our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. For anyone in Spain who knows of Thomas Dures' whereabouts, please contact Crimestoppers via our website Crimestoppers-uk.org.”