Graham Daly admitted the manslaughter of his mother Phyllis by diminished responsibility after the pensioner was found dead at a house on Clent Road in Maghull
14:02, 09 Jul 2026Updated 14:02, 09 Jul 2026
Graham Daly admitted the manslaughter of his 70-year-old mum Phyllis Daly(Image: Merseyside Police)
This is the first picture of a man who killed his 70-year-old mum. Phyllis Daly was found dead in a house on Clent Road in Maghull in July last year, having suffered “significant injuries”.
Her son Graham Daly was then charged with her murder in February. The 45-year-old, of Clent Road, was brought before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Thursday, in order to face this single count.
Appearing via video link to Ashworth Hospital wearing a grey Under Armour polo shirt, Daly spoke to confirm his name before denying this charge. However, he pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Phyllis Daly was found dead inside a home on Clent Road, Maghull(Image: Merseyside Police)
At this, Peter Glenser KC, prosecuting, said: “That plea was indicated to the crown a little while ago. We have considered that carefully at a senior level within the Crown Prosecution Service. It is acceptable to the crown.”
Referring to reports prepared by psychiatrists in advance of the hearing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC stated that he “completely understood and agreed with that decision”. Mr Glenser added: “It couldn’t really have been a clearer case of its type.”
Daly, who was represented by Nick Johnson KC and Louise McCloskey, will be sentenced at a later date. Adjourning the case and further remanding him into custody ahead of a hearing on August 19, Judge Flewitt said: “Mr Daly, the prosecution have accepted your plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
“There is no longer any need for a trial. There will be a further hearing on the 19th of August, when I will set a date for your sentence. Until then, you must remain where you are. You will appear on the link on the 19th of August in the same way that you have done today.”
The ECHO previously reported that Phyllis was found dead inside the address shortly after 1pm on Sunday, July 13, 2025, following reports of a domestic incident. Emergency services attended, but the pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Daly was meanwhile detained under the Mental Health Act and has remained in a secure hospital since the incident. It came after he was arrested at the Stanley Arms in Aughton the same afternoon.
Graham Daly admitted the manslaughter of his 70-year-old mum Phyllis Daly(Image: Merseyside Police)
Paying tribute following her death, neighbour Brenda Tanner, 81, described Phyllis as her “best friend” and said: “She was wonderful, she was absolutely wonderful. I’m going to miss her so much. Every day she was in here. She’d always ask what I wanted from the shop, she looked after me really well. She was very helpful and very giving, she worried more about others than she did herself. She was just wonderful.”
Merseyside Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Alan Nuttall meanwhile said following the incident: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the woman’s family, and they will be fully supported by specialist officers in the coming days and weeks. The community too will feel the shock and upset of this incident, and officers remain at the scene to hopefully provide reassurance and help carry out the initial stages of the investigation.
“Detectives will continue to gather witness statements and forensic evidence to establish a full understanding of what took place. We are in the very early stages of our investigation but this is currently being treated as a domestic incident in which the suspect and victim knew each other, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it. Thankfully, we were swiftly able to make an arrest following the incident.”