It appeared to break out after a fireworks display for the Fourth of July celebrations in New York – eyewitnesses spotted the blaze after the spectacular show on Saturday night

A fire has reportedly broken out on Brooklyn Bridge after a fireworks display for July 4 celebrations in New York.

A livestream of the fireworks display showed the fire burning with what appeared to be workers in hi-vis jackets working to extinguish the blaze.

The dramatic fireworks display had lit up the New York night sky – reports online suggested that the show was halted while the fire was being put out.

It’s not yet clear exactly what started the fire or how much damage has been caused to the iconic structure. Flashing emergency lights could be seen near the blaze and what appeared to be water being fired towards it in an attempt to extinguish the fire.

The blaze is understood to be on the side of the East River.

One eyewitness said: “Oh no! During the NYC America250 Independence Day fireworks celebration, reports emerged that part of the Brooklyn Bridge appeared to be on fire.

” Emergency crews are responding as officials work to determine the cause and assess the situation.”

Another said: “The fireworks are over, but there appears to be a fire on the Brooklyn Bridge.”

Meanwhile, in Washington, severe weather disrupted celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary of independence.

Storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall. President Donald Trump said he will still speak there later Saturday night.

“I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th,” Trump said in a social media post announcing his plans to still deliver a speech, which was expected to begin around 11pm local time.

J W Cockett and Son, on Main Street in Hawes, was founded in 1854 and remains one of the town’s long-standing independent businesses.

The shop is now run by the fifth generation of the Cockett family and continues to sell traditional bakery and butchery goods in the centre of the Wensleydale market town.

For many visitors, it has become a must-stop shop for pork pies, sausages, fruitcake, pastries and walking supplies before heading into the surrounding hills.

J W Cockett and Son (Image: GOOGLE)

The business describes itself as the home of the traditional Cocketts fruitcake, one of its most popular products.

The rich fruitcake is made with currants, sultanas and cherries, and is sold in the shop as well as online in selected sizes.

But the appeal of Cocketts goes beyond one product.

The business combines a traditional bakery and butchery under one roof, with bakery staff starting work in the early hours to prepare fresh goods for the shop and wholesale customers.

The bakery produces three types of bread, along with tray bakes, sponge cakes, pastries, sausage rolls and meat pies.

Fresh hot and cold filled rolls are also available daily, making the shop popular with walkers, visitors and people looking for lunch in Hawes.

The business also highlights its local supply chain, with eggs used in the bakery sourced from Wensleydale free-range eggs at a family-run farm in Fingall, near Leyburn.

Its butchery side also has strong local links.

The shop’s beef, lamb, poultry, pork and game is as locally sourced as possible, taking advantage of the shop’s position in a farming area surrounded by Dales fields and farms.

The butchery offers sausages, pies and seasonal products, including locally reared turkeys, geese and fowl during the festive period.

Its pork pies are especially popular with customers.

On Tripadvisor, J W Cockett and Son has a five-star rating from a small number of reviews, with visitors repeatedly singling out the pork pies, sausages, bakery products and friendly service.

One visitor from Liverpool said the shop became a daily stop during a stay near Hawes.

They described the produce as “beautiful, tasty and quality” and said they would recommend the pork pie as the best they had ever had.

They also praised the egg custards, Eccles cakes, farmhouse sausages and tomato sausages, adding that they planned to stock up before returning home.

Another reviewer said they had once lived in Lincolnshire and still did not mind travelling hours for Cocketts.

They said they went for the pork pies and could not find anywhere with pies to match.

Others have praised the business as a “fantastic bakery” with “delicious” products, while also highlighting the quality of the butcher’s side.

Google reviews tell a similar story, with customers calling it a “great butchers and bakers” and praising products including bacon, sausages, pork pies, Eccles cakes, fat rascals and Yorkshire cheesecakes.

One visitor said it was “nice to find a butchers and bakers on the same premises” and even better that both parts of the business were equally good.

Another called the pork pies “legendary”, saying they were worth the visit alone.

In an era when many high streets have lost independent butchers, bakers and family-run shops, J W Cockett and Son remains a rare survivor.

British prime minister Keir Starmer has apologised in the House of Commons for historical forced adoptions in England. Present in the gallery were mothers and adult adoptees directly affected by the practice.

In his apology Starmer praised their courage and resilience in steadfastly campaigning for truth and justice, and described what they faced as “a stain on our history”.

“To all those impacted and affected,” he said, “I say this: the shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours.”

As Starmer recognised, this formal apology follows earlier attempts by governments in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – and beyond – to address this traumatic history.

During the three decades following the second world war, historians estimate that between 300,000 and 500,000 children in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were removed from their mothers. Most of these women were single, and their children were put up for adoption without their free and informed consent.

While an apology is to be welcomed, campaigners and scholars alike highlight that it is long overdue. A culture of shame rooted in Catholic, Protestant and other religious traditions, and dating back to the 19th century, endured throughout the 20th century. Our research shows this was not just discriminatory but also costly and damaging to all affected families. As Starmer acknowledged in his statement, authorities used their power to exploit vulnerable women and their infants.

History of shame

The welfare model that emerged in Britain and Ireland in the post-war era was inherently gendered. Women and children qualified for support only as the wives, widows or children of male breadwinners. This was reinforced by an economic system that prioritised that male breadwinner making it virtually impossible for women and single mothers in particular to be financially independent through their own earning power.

Governments in the UK and Ireland failed to provide housing and financial support to single mothers, or, as they were then called, “unmarried mothers” and their so-called “illegitimate” children. These terms were intended to convey the stigma attached to sex outside marriage. Only the woman, however, bore the shame of any resulting pregnancy.

Single mothers were cast as a danger to the moral and economic fabric of society. Sending many of them to institutions to birth their babies and have them adopted was imbued with a strong moral force. Secrecy was important in protecting this system, reinforcing the woman’s shame, and rendering her “readmission” into society contingent on compliance.

In 1943, the UK Ministry of Health introduced subsidies for mother-and-baby homes in England; in Scotland, this came into effect the following year. Recipients included homes run by religious and secular groups, as well as registered adoption societies. As a result of the funding, more homes were established. The adoption workforce grew in stature. The number of adoptions rose.

In Ireland, the mother-and baby-homes were largely run by Catholic groups, or, when Protestant, by lay groups. These institutions were funded by public monies, charity and the unpaid labour of the mothers.

Such networks of control crossed borders and were firmly embedded throughout multiple religious, political (state and local) and social structures. The UK and Irish governments were happy for the welfare of these vulnerable women and children to be deemed a moral and religious issue. They offered some funding, but little oversight.

By the 1950s adoption was the preferred official solution to illegitimacy. The rights of the adoptive parents to be parents were prioritised over those of the birth mothers and their babies, who began to be framed as delinquent, selfish, welfare “spongers”.

Enduring stigma

In 1972, Ireland introduced a small unmarried mothers’ allowance. This was prompted not out of any new moral clarity, but the desire to discourage women from seeking abortions in Britain. The first legislation to provide unmarried mothers with the legal right to housing and a non-means-tested state benefit for one-parent families was introduced in England and Wales in 1974, and in Scotland in 1977.

By the 1980s, for various reasons, adoption rates declined in all these countries. Since then, the numbers of one-parent families have increased considerably. Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that in 2021, 15.4% of children in the UK were raised by lone parents; in Ireland that rate was up to 25%.

The majority of one-parent families have always been headed by women. Scotland has the highest rate at 92%; in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the percentage hovers around 86%. Female-headed families have been economically, socially, and medically vulnerable. They are more likely to live in poverty and have poorer health and educational outcomes than two-parent families.

While social attitudes have changed, biases persist. Organisations including One Parent Families Scotland, Gingerbread and One Family in Ireland all report that these mothers continue to feel stigmatised for being a lone parent.

In 2013, Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard issued an apology to the Australians affected by forced adoptions. Governments in Ireland, Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales have had various responses.

In Ireland, when the final report of an inquiry the government had commissioned was published in 2021, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, apologised for how women and children were treated in these institutions. He did not, however, apologise for the coerced adoptions or the human rights violations these represent.

Since their apologies in 2023 to mothers and families affected by forced adoption, the Scottish and Welsh governments have not granted survivors’ testimony any value and hence, have blocked their access to justice and any redress.

In Northern Ireland, by contrast, a 2021 report into mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries led to the government initiating a Truth and Recovery Programme. The independent panel is due to publish its detailed report on July 9.

England is the last nation in the British Isles to officially acknowledge this shameful history. Doing so is a crucial first step towards justice for the survivors. Starmer is right to point out, however, that an apology in and of itself is not enough. The government must heed survivors’ accounts and provide full redress, failing which these will be empty words of little value.

Starmer has duly promised to fund a national online resource providing people with a single-access point, and the support necessary, to locate records pertaining to the adoptions they were involved in. In order to ensure that lessons from the past are learned and that nothing like this ever happens in England again, the prime minister said the government will be commissioning a testimonials project, to capture the experiences of those whose lives were upended by forced adoption.

Addressing, finally, the campaigners who persisted in campaigning this issue for decades, he said: “It should never have happened, and you should not have had to fight so hard for this day to come.”

It’s the drug that midlife women increasingly claim is the key to finally overcoming menopause symptoms, banishing fatigue and reviving their libido.

No wonder, then, that NHS prescriptions for testosterone HRT have surged eight-fold in five years – with the therapy championed by celebrities from broadcaster Davina McCall to celebrity chef Dame Prue Leith.

But, for some, the effect of testosterone therapy can be underwhelming. Or its benefits can quickly fade – often within weeks or months.

This was the case for Daily Mail columnist Nadine Dorries, who last week revealed how, just three months after beginning testosterone therapy to tackle brain fog and exhaustion, ‘the positives have begun to subside’. Nadine previously detailed the remarkable turnaround she had experienced when she began treatment. ‘I could once again think clearly, and the relief was immense,’ she wrote. ‘I had honestly forgotten how good life can be.’

In response to the drop-off, her GP chose to double the dose and, thankfully, she says she can once again ‘feel the difference already and I’m back on form’.

However, experts say that, for many patients for whom the effects of testosterone fade, increasing the dose is not always necessary. Instead, they argue that many patients can ‘turbocharge’ their testosterone therapy by making other changes.

These include changing sleeping patterns, cutting out certain food and drink, as well as following a particular exercise routine.

NHS prescriptions for testosterone HRT have surged eight-fold in the last five years 

Crucially, experts also say that many patients are making common mistakes when applying their testosterone that could be impacting its efficacy.

‘It’s very normal for the effects of drugs to lessen over time,’ says Dr Naomi Potter, co-author of Davina McCall’s book Menopausing. ‘But there are things you can do to maximise your body’s response.’

While testosterone is often seen as a male hormone, women also produce it in smaller amounts in the ovaries and adrenal glands.

It plays a key role in sexual desire by boosting dopamine – the ‘feel-good’ chemical linked to pleasure, decision-making, mood and focus.

Levels peak in the mid-to-late 20s, then gradually decline with age. However, experts say this does not mean all women will need to take it. Most women who develop menopause symptoms in midlife will respond well to standard hormone replacement therapy, which usually comprises the two female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

But, for some, particularly those with persistently low libido, testosterone might be recommended.

Almost all women prescribed testosterone therapy in the UK will typically take it as a gel that is rubbed into the skin every day.

But the treatment won’t be effective for everyone. Dr Paula Briggs, a reproductive and sexual health consultant at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, believes that only one in ten women experience a benefit.

It is also still unclear whether it improves menopause symptoms beyond libido, as there is no data that it combats other common issues such as brain fog or poor sleep – but studies looking into this are ongoing.

However, the way to get the best results from testosterone therapy is to also focus on boosting natural testosterone levels.

‘Medication isn’t the only way to get your levels up,’ says Dr Potter.

‘You can’t just take the drug and hope that all your symptoms go away. It’s important to look after your body too.’

One of the most important factors is getting enough sleep. Studies show that most people need between seven and eight hours a night – however, it is important not to get too much sleep, either.

A 2023 study, published in the journal Andrology, found middle-aged women who slept for less than six hours tended to have low testosterone – but so too did those who slept for more than nine hours.

Davina McCall holding a tube of testosterone. The broadcaster is a vocal supporter of the therapy

Dr Naomi Potter, co-author of Davina’s book Menopausing, says that excercise is crucial for boosting testosterone. Twice-weekly resistance training could boost levels in two months

‘One of the best ways to ensure you are getting the right amount of sleep is to go to bed and wake up at the same times,’ says Dr Potter. ‘This will help regulate your hormones, so they are not spiking or dropping.’

Another way to boost testosterone levels is to avoid caffeine and alcohol.

‘During the menopause the body becomes more sensitive to caffeine,’ she adds. ‘So you are more likely to feel more anxious and sleep less, both of which will worsen your testosterone levels. The same is true for alcohol.’

Dr Potter also argues that exercise is crucial for boosting testosterone. One 1998 US study found that twice-weekly resistance training – muscle-strengthening exercises that involve weights or bands – could boost female testosterone levels in two months.

Any exercise is helpful – provided you don’t multi-task while doing it.

‘One of the most important parts of exercise is that it tackles stress levels,’ says Dr Potter. ‘And all exercise has this effect, whether it’s running or weight-lifting.

‘But if you are watching something on your phone or responding to emails at the same time as exercising, this is going to keep your stress levels up and reduce its positive effects.’

Another reason many women find their testosterone therapy stops working – or is not as effective as they expected – is because they are not using it correctly.

Testosterone medication typically comes in a pump dispenser or sachet. But Dr Potter says that many patients do not use enough of it.

‘It’s common for patients to not get all the gel out of the packet,’ she says. ‘And if you underdose like this over several weeks you will start to feel a difference.’

She adds that many patients do not realise they need to wait for it to absorb into the skin. ‘If you wear clothing over the top of the area where the gel has been applied, this can rub it off,’ she says.

‘Likewise, if you go in the sea, apply sunscreen to the area or even just sweat in the sun, this can all reduce its effect.

‘I’ve even had patients who were getting into hot tubs or saunas straight after applying it, who didn’t realise this would lessen its impact.’

Dr Potter says that anyone who believes their testosterone therapy is no longer working should speak to their GP.

‘It’s possible that a larger dose might be necessary,’ she says. ‘But, often, it’s worth checking whether you are taking the drug correctly and that you are doing everything possible to keep your body healthy.’

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons aboard a new 5,000-ton destroyer, the Kang Kon, repaired after being damaged in a failed launch ceremony last year, state media said Sunday, in the latest military display marking Kim’s push to build a nuclear-armed navy.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Friday’s event included test-firings of a strategic cruise missile and of the Kang Kon’s main gun and automatic cannons, as well as trials of its electronic warfare systems and assessments of its target-detection and information-processing capabilities.

After observing the tests from shore, Kim ordered officials to complete the destroyer’s trials and place the vessel in active duty within two months, the state news agency said.

The tests came after North Korea in late June commissioned its first 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, a milestone Kim marked with a lavish ceremony where he declared that the nuclear armament of his navy was proceeding as planned.

After years of prioritizing ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly turned his focus to naval capabilities, including the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. While outlining his five-year military goals at February’s Workers’ Party congress, Kim also called for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of underwater launches.

North Korea first unveiled the Choe Hyon in April 2025, which Kim portrayed as a major step toward expanding his military’s operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. KCNA has said the warship is equipped with a range of systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

South Korean officials and experts say the vessel was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties between the countries, but some analysts have questioned how effective the vessel would be in active service.

The Kang Kon was unveiled a month after the Choe Hyon in May 2025, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim. The country later said the ship was relaunched in June after repairs, but outside experts have questioned whether it’s genuinely ready for active duty.

Kim has also called for building two new 5,000-ton warships annually over the next five years, as well as developing a larger 10,000-ton destroyer.

Thomas Tuchel believes Reece James could return to the England matchday squad for the Three Lions’ crunch World Cup tie against Mexico.

Chelsea captain James did not take part in team training at a nearby facility on Saturday afternoon, instead undergoing a personalised programme as he looks to recover from a hamstring injury, but Tuchel said his first-choice right back would undergo a late fitness test before Sunday’s 6pm kick-off.

However, Jarrell Quansah is back fit after the ankle injury that he picked up a week ago against Panama. The Bayer Leverkusen defender could start at right back over Djed Spence, who struggled in the victory over DR Congo.

“Jarrell trained and is fully available,” Tuchel said. “Reece can maybe make it on the bench, but we need a last assessment from the doctors and a medical opinion.”

Elsewhere, Declan Rice has been declared fit for Sunday’s last-16 tie as the midfield linchpin continues to manage pain in his back and hamstring. Rice finished the game against DR Congo at right-back – but he is expected to start alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield.

Tuchel insists he does not expect a “hostile environment” for his players on Sunday, instead believing the Mexican fans will simply be “emotional and supportive” of their team.

“It will be emotional and full of support for the home nation,” Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference outside the 80,000-capacity stadium.

“I don’t expect any hostility. So far, everyone was very respectful. I don’t expect a hostile environment, a stadium like this – not a lot of stadiums can create an atmosphere for the home team.”

“It makes me feel very alive. I want to live up to the expectations for myself. I think we are there.’’

There has been plenty of talk about England’s players potentially being unable to sleep on Saturday night, with Mexican fans set to make loud noises and set off pyrotechnics outside their hotel. Yet Tuchel insisted his team “deserve respect” and they have around 100 riot police guarding their hotel to the west of the city centre.

“We have no issues today, I think Fifa are aware of the situation and we have security around the hotel,” he said. “It’s a 6pm kick-off so if we don’t have sleep, we have some time to get hours in in the morning.

“I don’t want to talk about problems that don’t exist. What I’ve experienced until now was very respectful, emotional and supportive. We are respectful of everyone and then we expect to be treated with respect. To talk about potential problems does not make sense to me.

“If they come, we will accept them. It’s a demanding tournament in itself, the best way to approach it is to be relaxed.”

England took part in a one-hour training session on Saturday afternoon as they looked to adapt to the much-talked-about topic of altitude, with Mexico City standing 7,220 feet above sea level.

“We feel it, I felt a slight headache through the day, didn’t sleep as well, but nothing that you cannot handle or adapt to,” Tuchel said.

“I think the players felt it in the first minutes of the training session but the longer it went, the better they could cope with it. We cannot physically adapt; it’s impossible. We’re here a day before to experience it.

“It’s not a coincidence that Mexico’s home turf is very strong, front foot, aggressive. I think the first 15-20 minutes will be the toughest for us. Once we overcome that, I think we are in a good place.”

Jordan Henderson, alongside Tuchel, admitted that Sunday’s occasion will be right up there with the biggest matches he’s ever experienced.

“A huge occasion, doesn’t get much bigger or better playing Mexico in Mexico City in that stadium, no words really,” Henderson, who is appearing in his fourth World Cup, said.

“Incredible occasion for everyone but it’s about staying focused. Mexico are a very good side, with very good players. Every game in the World Cup is difficult – everyone is looking forward to playing this game tomorrow.

“I hope it brings the best out of us.”

The Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show in New York City was brought forward to avoid severe thunderstorms on America’s 250th birthday.

Organizers moved the timings due to the storms, which have struck the East Coast amid a heatwave on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Americans celebrated across the country Saturday despite the disruptions and severe weather, including in the nation’s capital. Organizers were forced to evacuate the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in the early evening ahead of President Donald Trump’s address to the nation. The president – whose speech was originally planned for around 10pm – said he would still speak once the inclement weather had passed.

“I don’t care if it’s 2:00 O’Clock in the morning,” he posted on Truth Social, adding that storms bring “good luck.”

Elsewhere, spectacular fireworks displays were planned for Chicago’s Navy Pier. New York also ushered in the holiday with a midnight ball drop, mirroring the fanfare of New Year’s Eve, and saw tall ships parade past the Statue of Liberty, recalling the grandeur surrounding the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.

Anticipation for this milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own.

Yet, celebrations months in the making have had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits.

Heat is defining the big weekend in many places

In Washington, the city’s main Independence Day parade scheduled for Saturday was canceled, but a smaller one rolled along in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in the morning as onlookers sought shade under trees along the route. Also in the area, dozens of members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front wearing face masks and carrying Confederate battle flags held a march. No arrests were reported, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

About 45 minutes before the World Cup match in Houston, a message from astronauts aboard the International Space Station noting the holiday was beamed into the stadium.

On New York’s Coney Island, competitors chowed down on hot dogs at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July contest.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut won for the 18th time in 21 appearances, eating 66 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. On the women’s side, defending champion Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, held the title by downing 38.75 dogs. Both champions said the heat wave made the competition more difficult.

An uneasy nation gets ready to celebrate

The celebrations are unfolding against the backdrop of a deep divide this election year that has been expanding for years, visible in everything from political expression to cultural norms to age-old questions over race, class and immigration.

At Mount Rushmore on Friday, Trump spoke of communism as a “mortal threat to American liberty” with the Republican president saying it was more dangerous than either World War or 9/11.

Without naming Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat who is also a democratic socialist and recently backed several successful congressional candidates in their primaries, appeared to reference Trump during a speech Friday.

“Those ideals upon which our nation was built — they are strong enough to endure any authoritarian regime, but only if we reach for them,” he said.

To former Democratic President Bill Clinton, this anniversary milestone comes at a time of “renewed questions about America’s future and role in the world, and serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself.” While critical of “the people in charge,” he said in a statement that “there is still nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what’s right with America.”

Vice President JD Vance said small but loud voices would speak on America’s birthday about its imperfections instead of its greatness.

“They will tell you that America is just another country, where the weak struggle against the strong,” Vance said speaking aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York Harbor.

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A massive demonstration was held for the 35th night in a row in Albania’s capital on Saturday, with protesters calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the temporary replacement of his government, constitutional reform and an end to corruption.

Media images showed tens of thousands of people marching along Tirana’s main boulevard toward Skanderbeg Square. There has been no independent verification of the number of protesters.

The nightly demonstrations began over a luxury coastal resort development project in a protected natural area linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, but have since evolved into broader anti-government and anti-corruption protests. The protesters were chanting “New Albania” and “Edi Rama, resign.”

The march was heavy on symbolism. A tall bust of Rama was erected and later toppled with the help of a rope, a gesture reminiscent of the February 1991 toppling of the statue of longtime communist dictator Enver Hoxha, an event commemorated on Feb. 20 each year. Since Saturday’s protest coincided with Rama’s 62nd birthday, some protesters carried “birthday cakes” made of cement, an allusion to the building projects. There was also an ironic “happy birthday” song for Rama.

Some protesters carried pink flamingo balloons, a reference to the birds supposedly threatened by the resort construction project. The demonstrations have long been dubbed “the pink flamingo revolution.”

After protesting for about two hours, a large group marched to a police station, demanding the release of people arrested during Thursday’s protest near parliament.

Protesters broke the windows of the police station while police responded with a water cannon to disperse the crowd.

Daniel Lawless was caught on camera showing off the weapon to friends in a pub car park before shooting his victim outside his own home in an apparent case of mistaken identity

An unsuspecting man was blasted in the legs with a shotgun outside his own home while heading to the chippy.

Daniel Lawless was captured on CCTV “showing the weapon off to his friends” in a pub car park prior to shooting his victim in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

The attack is understood to have occurred amid a backdrop of “petty, tit-for-tat retaliation” between opposing gangs, leaving the wounded victim hauling himself back indoors to safety and questioning: “Why did he still shoot me if I wasn’t the person he wanted to shoot? It was nothing to do with me.”

Liverpool Crown Court was told on Friday afternoon that David Forbes departed his residence on the evening of February 28 last year and set off towards a chip shop to collect food for his family. After crossing Cubert Road in Croxteth, he spotted a masked Lawless dropping a white plastic bag and sprinting in his direction, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Simon Christie, prosecuting, outlined how the 23-year-old, of no fixed address, was dressed entirely in black and “mumbled something indistinct” before aiming a shotgun at Mr Forbes, who “has no connection whatsoever with the defendant or any of his associates”, and discharging it. The complainant remembered a “bang and a flash” before collapsing to the ground and discovering he had been shot in the legs.

Mr Forbes then “dragged himself back to his house”, where his stepson recalled him entering the property and crying “I’ve been shot”. Mr Christie added: “Mr Forbes believed this to be a case of mistaken identity. He was entirely correct. This was a deliberate shooting of a wholly innocent person who was nothing whatsoever to do with the defendant.”

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The attack left Mr Forbes with “nasty injuries to his lower leg”, having initially spent a fortnight in hospital before later being readmitted for four weeks after developing blood clots. He has since undergone multiple operations and skin grafts, with hundreds of shotgun pellets still lodged in his legs.

Unable to attend the sentencing hearing due to ongoing medical treatment, Mr Forbes submitted a statement which was read aloud to the court: “I wanted to look at him directly and ask him why? I have no knowledge of why this happened.

“I was the wrong person at the wrong time. I’m glad it happened to me. Initially, my stepson was going to the chip shop. I decided to go instead. He’s struggled with what’s happened and struggled with his exams during his third year at university.

“I’d just like to know why he did this to me. I was just going to the shop. Why did he still shoot me if I wasn’t the person he wanted to shoot? It was nothing to do with me.”

CCTV footage captured Lawless departing an address on Petherick Road on foot just after 10pm, making his way into the car park of the Lobster pub, where he was filmed pulling a shotgun from a carrier bag and brandishing it to three men standing outside. After walking away to carry out the attack, he fled the scene, briefly returned, then left once more — at which point he was spotted “gesturing towards the males in the car park”.

Upon returning to Petherick Road, Lawless was filmed getting into a parked vehicle approximately 20 minutes later, clutching a backpack, before “disappearing”. He subsequently arrived back at the address by taxi at around 7.15am the following morning, dressed in a dressing gown and carrying a black rucksack, with police never recovering the firearm.

Lawless has a prior criminal record, including a 10-month sentence for making threats with an offensive weapon in a public place in January 2023. He was later handed five years and four months for wounding with intent in July 2025, having “thrown boiling hot sugar water over his cellmate, causing significant injuries” while behind bars.

Defence counsel Charles Lander informed the court that Lawless had suffered the death of his grandmother earlier that week, before stating: “It is accepted that Mr Forbes is an entirely innocent victim of the defendant’s behaviour. This young defendant is clearly facing a lengthy period of imprisonment.

“Clearly, probation and the Prison Service are trying to work with him. He is a defendant who suffers with a number of issues. His parents have come to court. They have been highly supportive throughout these proceedings.

“They express their utmost sympathy to Mr Forbes and his family. They cannot believe that they are in a position where they are sitting in a courtroom listening to these serious acts committed by their son.

“The defendant has taken the opportunity of finding trusted employment as wing cleaner in prison. Clearly, there have been some concerns about how he has behaved in prison. There have been significant issues with his mental health.

“His position in prison has been made more difficult by threats that are being made. Clearly, these are threats that have been persisting for some time. Obviously, the defendant dealt with one threat in a highly disproportionate way by obtaining a weapon in February of last year.

“He is still relatively young. He is determined, when released from prison, that he is going to leave Liverpool, leave the various associates who he stupidly hung around with in the younger part of his life and, ultimately, be a member of society his parents can be proud of.”

Lawless admitted wounding with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, with a previous charge of attempted murder being ordered to lie on the file. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he appeared to wipe his eyes with his blue Montirex t-shirt before he was jailed for 18-and-a-half years and handed an additional four years on licence.

During sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne stated: “Mr Forbes was a totally innocent member of the public. He did not know you. He did not associate with you or any of your friends. He had nothing to do with any criminal group. He was simply walking to a chip shop to get some food.

“You left your home carrying a loaded shotgun in a plastic bag. Your face was covered. You intended to shoot someone as part of some petty, tit-for-tat retaliation. You showed the weapon off to your friends.

“What happened next has been captured quite clearly on CCTV. You pointed the weapon at Mr Forbes and discharged it once at close proximity. Mr Forbes managed to drag himself back to his home address, badly injured and covered in blood. He sustained serious injuries to both legs below the knees.

“His injuries required several bouts of surgery. Mr Forbes speaks to both the ongoing physical and psychological harm that he experiences. He can no longer do many things he previously enjoyed doing and had to give up his job.

“The unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition are of grave concern to society. They can be used to main and kill. Innocent members of the public, as in this case, are put at risk of serious injury or worse.

“There are permanent and irreversible injuries here. A significant aggravating feature is your previous convictions. I find no particularly compelling mitigation.”

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