Ashley Dale dad heartbroken as daughter and son both shot dead seven years apart
Ashley Dale's dad has broken his silence after her four killers were jailed today for a total of 173 years for her "senseless" murder.
Steven Dunne said he has been "confined to a nightmare" since the horror death of his daughter. Lead Counsel Paul Greaney KC read the Victim Personal Statement from Ashley’s dad on his behalf. Greaney addressed James Witham, Joseph Peers, Niall Barry and Sean Zeisz who were found guilty of her murder. Dunne said from day one of the trial, "he has not seen one single shred of remorse from any of the defendants."
Environmental health worker Ashley Dale was killed when gunman Witham, 41, forced his way into her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of August 21 last year and opened fire with a Skorpion submachine gun. At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, Witham was jailed for a minimum of 43 years. Barry, 26, who was described by the prosecution as the "malign presence" behind Ms Dale's killing, was sentenced to a minimum term of 47 years. Peers, 29, said to be a "foot soldier" who drove Witham to the scene, was sentenced to at least 41 years and Zeisz, 28, who was accused of organising and encouraging the attack with Barry, was told to serve a minimum of 42 years.
Ashley Dale, 28, with her father Steve Dunne (PA)The four men were found guilty following a seven-week trial of the murder of Ms Dale, conspiracy to murder her boyfriend Lee Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon - a Skorpion sub-machine gun - and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Witham admitted manslaughter, claiming he was acting alone and believed the house was empty when he went to Leinster Road in the early hours and fired 10 shots downstairs, one of which fatally struck Ms Dale and five in an upstairs bedroom. Mr Harrison, who did not cooperate with police following his girlfriend's death, was out on the night of the murder and has since spent time in Dubai, the court heard.
Ashley Dale with her dog Darla in Sefton Park, Liverpool (PA)
The dad of Ashley Dale, Steve Dunne arrives at Liverpool Crown Court. (Liverpool Echo)Steven Dunne's statement in full:
"On Saturday 20th August 2022, I went to bed as normal. I didn’t realise that when I woke up, my life would never be the same again. In the early hours of the morning on Sunday 21st August 2022, I was awoken by an officer from Merseyside Police who, on confirming who I was, told me my daughter, Ashley Dale, was dead.
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I can’t even begin to describe how I felt. I’d instantly been confined to a living nightmare. He then proceeded to tell me that Ashley had been shot. I remember shouting ‘no’ for a long time at the top of my voice; I couldn’t believe it - history had repeated itself. My son, Lewis Dunne, had been shot dead seven years previous at only 16 years of age. He was shot at close range in the back with a shotgun in a case of mistaken identity; an innocent victim caught in the middle of a gang feud. It had been a long seven years of pulling myself out of some very dark – and at times, lonely – places, trying to put my life back together.
Sean Zeisz, Niall Barry, Joseph Peers and James Witham (left to right) (PA)In 2022, I was expecting the arrival of my first grandson, and life seemed to be pretty positive again. It had taken a lot to get to where I was after the murder of my son, and I’d instantly been put back to day one by the actions of another. Ashley is the oldest of my three children, Lewis the youngest – both are now deceased. I want to take this opportunity to talk about Ashley. I couldn’t be any prouder of Ashley. She was a beautiful, intelligent, charismatic, career-driven, and family-orientated young woman. She had been through a lot with the death of her brother, but still managed throughout that ordeal and the subsequent murder trial to concentrate on her studies, graduating with a degree in environmental health. This is a testament to her strength, dedication, and intelligence. She knew what she wanted in life and worked hard to achieve it; she always did.
She loved her food and when we’d go out for family meals, it was nearly always Ashley’s choice, but we were in good hands; Ashley had good taste. Ashley had a very active social life; she was liked by everyone, so getting a timeslot on Ashley’s busy schedule could usually be guaranteed by an offer of some nice tapas, or by cooking her a nice meal. Her favourite was steak, roast potatoes, broccoli, peas, and mushrooms; that was what she would most often ask me to cook, and we would sit, talk, and catch up for hours. I cherished every second that I spent with her. Because of the callous and cruel actions of those responsible, I will never be able to have a family meal with Ashley again. Despite this, as we saw on CCTV during the trial, Mr. Witham considered it acceptable to take Ashley’s life away - take all that from her, me, and all of her family – before spending time dining with his own young son, just two days after murdering her.
Ashley loved going to festivals but had started recently speaking to me about wanting to start a family. She knew her current relationship was not one that she wanted to bring a child into, but she just couldn’t bring herself to make that permanent break. Ashley never got the chance to be a mum, and her family have been robbed of the chance of meeting Ashley’s children, my grandchildren.
Ashley Dale with her dad Steve Dunne (PA)Ashley had recently been promoted to a higher position in work, which is characteristic of her ambition and dedication; but she never got the chance to take up that position and enjoy the rewards of her hard work. The 15th November 2023 marked the eight-year anniversary of Lewis’ death; the 16th November 2023 was the seven-year anniversary of the three men responsible being found guilty of his murder. I was sitting in the very same court with my daughters’ – Ashley and Yazmin – when those verdicts were read out. Ashley sobbed uncontrollably when the foreman delivered those verdicts; she had to live through the trauma caused not only by Lewis’ murder, but by the subsequent trial which those responsible forced upon us all by failing to admit responsibility for what they had done.
I am now sitting with my one remaining child, having been put through the trauma of yet another trial, listening to those verdicts being read out in relation to Ashley’s murder. I have lost another child; a victim of big egos running around the city with powerful guns, involved in petty feuds and killing innocent people. Christmas 2022 should have been a happy time; the first Christmas I would get to share with my first grandson. Instead, it was the darkest place I have ever been to in my life.
I went away for a week before Christmas by myself, just to get away from everything, to try to prepare myself mentally for what I knew would be a difficult time; the first Christmas without not one, but two of my kids. I will never get it out of my head; the fear that Ashley must have felt that night, which would undoubtedly have been exacerbated by the post-traumatic stress disorder that Ashley had suffered since the death of her brother, and the pain she must have gone through after this brutal, savage act was committed against her.
These thoughts affected me most around Christmas time, when I should have been spending quality time with my children. Instead, from the 23rd to 27th December 2022 I wasn’t able to leave my house. I sat in with the curtains and blinds shut, listening to songs Ashley enjoyed; grieving, crying, and contemplating dark thoughts of whether I can live this life anymore; whether I would have the strength to go through the coming years, knowing that I’d have to do so without two of my children. My own post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating, lonely, and unbearable mental illness, and it’s going to take years of hard work to try to overcome this - again.
It was the first time in my life that I experienced what it actually felt like when someone can’t go on, but I knew I had to for my daughter, my grandson, and my family; I also knew I had to see justice done for Ashley. From day one of the trial, I have not seen one single shred of remorse from any of the defendants; in fact, quite the opposite – I have felt that, throughout the trial, often during breaks in the court procedure, they have all individually behaved very disrespectfully towards myself and other members of Ashley’s family. On that night in August, these individuals targeted Ashley’s car; they targeted Ashley’s house; they targeted Ashley – an innocent girl home along on a Saturday night, cuddled up to her beloved dog, Darla – a place where she should have been safe and happy.
This is as senseless and ruthless as it comes, and I would ask that consideration be given to imposing the maximum sentence possible on these men. Throughout the course of the trial, they have not acknowledged our pain, apologised, or shown any understanding of the impact of what they have done; they are only sorry that they have been caught. From what I’ve observed throughout the course of this trial, I don’t believe this will change any time soon, if ever. By failing to admit responsibility, they have forced us to sit through the harrowing ordeal of yet another trial; they have consistently lied to try and avoid being punished for their actions.
Four men guilty of murdering council worker, 28, gunned down in her own home
These are clearly dangerous individuals, able and willing to deploy the most dangerous of automatic weapons to settle petty disputes, without any concern at all for those caught up in the crossfire. No family should ever have to go through what we have gone through; these men cannot be allowed to do this to anyone else."
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