Former professional footballer Patrick Lacey has been arrested and charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident.
Lacey, who spent time in the youth systems of Manchester United and Liverpool, went on to enjoy a 12-year senior career featuring clubs such as Altrincham, Barrow, Accrington Stanley, and Southport.
The 32-year-old has now been implicated in a serious criminal investigation after a man in his 20s was shot in a driveway in Huyton in November 2025. The victim was taken to hospital with a serious leg injury.
According to reports, the shooting happened on Radway Road, and four men have been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, Section 18 grievous bodily harm (GBH), and conspiracy to cause GBH. All four appeared in court on Friday, 19 February 2026.
The other three men charged are John Aaron Jones, 35; John George Patrick Hughes, 31; and Bernard Flynn, 61.
Lacey, who is also a professional boxer with a 12–1 record, is the older brother of Shea Lacey, who has made three senior appearances for Manchester United this season, including their FA Cup defeat to Brighton last month.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Chris Clark of Merseyside Police confirmed that coordinated warrants were executed as part of the ongoing investigation and that all four men were due in court.
He added that the investigation remains active and urged anyone with information — including dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage — to come forward rather than assume police already have the details
