Bar to remain shut after boxer's stabbing despite 'pack of animals' being jailed

A city centre nightclub, which was closed following a violent brawl that resulted in a boxer being stabbed in the heart, has had its bid to reopen rejected. Anthony Dodson was left fighting for his life after violence erupted at the Safe House bar on Victoria Street last December.

The venue lost its premises licence in January amid concerns raised by Merseyside Police. Now, just days after six men were jailed for their part in the violence, an application to reopen the bar has been denied.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday how some of those involved in the brutal incident attempted to destroy evidence by burning their designer clothes in a park and tried to flee to France as illegal stowaways on a lorry following the near-fatal assault. Eight defendants - Milne Critchley, Adam Draper, Lee Duffy, Jordan Kinsella, Eugene Mason-Lamb, George Miller, Cameron Quinn and a 17 year old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons - were found guilty of offences including unlawful wounding and violent disorder in relation to the brawl that took place in the early hours just after Christmas.

At the time of the incident involving Mr Dodson in December, Meshach Harris was listed as the designated premises supervisor (DPS) and premises licence holder. This remained the case during an initial expedited review hearing that led to the Safe House bar closing its doors shortly afterwards.

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In March, a Liverpool Council licensing and gambling sub-committee was informed that Mr Harris had voluntarily stepped down as DPS on January 18. After an extensive committee meeting on January 24, the local authority and police confirmed that the licence would be revoked from the Safehouse following the attack on Mr Dodson during the holiday season, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Karl Barry, a licensing agent representing Mr Harris, stated that due to "pressure" from Merseyside Police, the company no longer wanted to hold the licence. As a result, Mr Harris - who his agent described as having a good character - attempted to regain the licence through a second transfer.

This move was initially opposed by Merseyside Police but ultimately proved successful.

The LDRS has learned that a hearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court yesterday upheld Liverpool Council's decision to keep the venue closed. At the committee meeting in March, PC Nicola Ireland told councillors that Mr Harris' "inexperience" played a role in the events leading up to the incident in December and that attempts to regain the licence were made "in effort to circumvent responsibility" and "frustrate the proceedings of the committee."

PC Ireland remarked that Mr Harris had done "nothing to reassure" authorities regarding any significant changes, affirming their initial concerns. The courtroom was absorbed by the dramatic events of December 27 at 5am, as the prosecutor Steven Ball stated: "This Safehouse was anything but."

On Monday, Mr Ball underscored the severity of Mr Dodson's situation, pointing out that he "faces an uncertain prognosis" since his "heart is not functioning correctly."