Dean Mears Rhyl ring doorbell killer jailed for Catherine Flynn murder

George HerdBBC NewsReporting fromCaernarfon Crown CourtA choose described the assault as “mindless”, leading to “catastrophic accidents”The daughter of a murdered girl says her life shattered when she noticed the killer enter her mom’s residence through a hoop doorbell alert.Dean Mears dragged grandmother Catherine Flynn, 69, from her mattress and stamped on her, breaking each bone in her face through the assault in October 2024.Mrs Flynn’s daughter Natasha Flynn-Farrell mentioned she watched helplessly after she obtained a doorbell digital camera alert of the drug seller breaking into her mom’s residence within the seaside city of Rhyl in Denbighshire. Jailing him for all times with a 27 12 months and 128 day minimal time period, Choose Rhys Rowlands mentioned Mears, 35, was accountable for a “savage, and fairly ferocious and cruel assault”. He mentioned the recording captured on the doorbell digital camera “can solely be described as horrific”.”It was by all accounts a very surprising and merciless strategy to finish her life.”Mears, from Kinmel Bay in Conwy, was discovered responsible of homicide after a nine-day trial in Caernarfon in Might.The jury heard he had taken ketamine and hashish earlier than breaking into the frail grandmother’s residence – a girl he had by no means met.He then smashed a window and entered the house, going straight to Mrs Flynn’s bed room.He may very well be heard screaming at her earlier than the sickening sound of stamping was captured on the doorbell recording.Mrs Flynn was taken to hospital after struggling in depth facial trauma and a number of fractures, the place she died the next day.Prosecutor Andrew Jones KC mentioned she had suffered severe well being and mobility points, and used a stairlift and a strolling body inside her home.She was simply 4ft 10in (1.47m) and weighed lower than eight stone (50kg).Household photoCatherine Flynn, who was recognized by household and mates as Cathy, died from in depth stamp accidents to her head and neckMrs Flynn-Farrell addressed her mom’s killer within the dock on Friday. “You Dean Mears – you’ll be able to’t even have a look at me,” she mentioned. “You did not simply kill my mum – you killed part of me.”You Dean Mears took the sunshine out of my life.”I need my phrases and my face to be etched into your mind.”She mentioned she lived with the footage and sounds captured by the doorbell digital camera through the assault.”I hear these thuds to her head, face and neck daily.”It replays in my in gradual movement – thud, thud, thud.”That second was the vilest, sickening second of my life.”How may you do what you probably did to my mum – my queenie. You must cling your head in disgrace.”You’re nothing however a coward. I will by no means forgive you Dean Mears.”North Wales PoliceMears pleaded responsible to manslaughter, however was discovered responsible of homicide by a jury after a nine-day trial in MayPathologist Dr Brian Rodgers instructed the jury Mrs Flynn’s accidents had been “the forms of accidents you see in high-speed highway site visitors collisions”.The doorbell recording advised there have been as much as 15 blows from her killer.Mears admitted he had carried out the assault, however mentioned he had no recollection of what occurred.His defence group argued Mears had been affected by post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), after being stabbed twice following a jail sentence for drug dealing.Natasha Flynn-Farrell says her mom’s homicide has left her household “shattered”Talking to BBC Wales earlier than the sentencing, Mrs Flynn-Farrell recounted the second she obtained the doorbell notification to inform her somebody was at her mom’s entrance door.”It’s the worst night time of my life I’ve ever skilled,” she mentioned.”My life simply shattered in that second,” she mentioned. “As quickly as I clicked on that notification, that was the second my world crumbled.” Mrs Flynn-Farrell was residence alone as occasions unfolded a brief drive away at her mom’s home, and will solely watch and pay attention till Mears left earlier than she may cellphone the police.”For these two minutes I needed to watch that out. It felt like two hours. I used to be hysterical.”Arriving on the home, Mrs Flynn-Farrell was saved outdoors whereas police went in to see what had occurred to her mom.”I did comprehend it was severe however I used to be making an attempt to inform myself it was going to be OK, that hopefully it wasn’t as unhealthy as what I might heard.”But it surely was terrible. It was the worst end result that might have ever occurred for her – and for all our household.” Mrs Flynn-Farrell mentioned Mears was “not well worth the air we breathe”.”To have the ability to do this to a defenceless, 69-year-old, frail, seven stone little girl. She was like just a little doll.”He is a monster and he is a coward.Mrs Flynn-Farrell mentioned her mom’s homicide has had a profound have an effect on on her and people round her.”There are such a lot of lives he has ripped aside,” she mentioned.”The ripple impact this has had – not simply on the household, on the group, on full strangers. It has been a whirlwind of feelings for everybody.”She mentioned she was nonetheless dwelling with the affect daily.”I discover it arduous most days to rise up and exit. I do not wish to see anybody, I’ve misplaced contact with my mates. “It is given me unhealthy anxiousness, despair, PTSD. I do not even watch the telly anymore, in case issues set off it.”I am dwelling a nightmare nonetheless.”The homicide befell at Cefndy Highway within the RhylMrs Flynn-Farrell mentioned she hoped the sentencing may lastly convey some closure to the tragedy and desires to have the ability to assist others going through household trauma sooner or later.She coined the social media tag #JusticeforQueenie because the homicide case went by way of the court docket system, as a platform to recollect her mom and to speak about what had occurred.”It is not only for my mum – it is for everybody’s Queenie,” she mentioned.”I need this to hold on and be a platform in opposition to violence for ladies and women. It will be used to assist different organisations, femicide consciousness and issues like that.”