Taking to a dedicated Facebook page in memory of Dean, he said: “Happy 36th Birthday, Dean”
14:02, 15 Mar 2026Updated 14:02, 15 Mar 2026
Dean Fitzpatrick
The grieving father of knife victim Dean Fitzpatrick has said he is “missed more than words can say” as he paid tribute to him on his birthday.
Dean, a father-of-one and the brother of missing Amy Fitzpatrick, was stabbed to death on May 25, 2013, by his stepfather Dave Mahon, who was found guilty of his manslaughter in May 2016. His heartbroken father Christopher Fitzpatrick spoke of how much he was loved on what would have been his 36th birthday last Monday, March 9.
Taking to a dedicated Facebook page in memory of Dean, he said: “Happy 36th Birthday, Dean. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. You are loved and missed more than words can say. Love, Dad.”
While Dean’s partner Sarah spoke of how much he was loved by not just her, but by their son Leon, she said: “A day I hate remembering every year. Another birthday, another year older but forever 23. 36 tomorrow Dean. 13 years of birthdays in heaven.
“The pain will always be the same. Hope you’re happy in heaven and at peace. Never forgotten always in my heart and thoughts.”
She added: “Leon loves you always and wishes you a happy heavenly birthday. Thanks for being the best dad to our son even though it wasn’t for long but in the short 21 months you had with Leon, I knew being a dad was your biggest blessing and achievement. You were so proud of your boy.
“He will always love you and miss you. Your legacy lives on in Leon. Rest in peace Dean, happy heavenly 36th birthday for tomorrow. Forever 23.”
Mahon, 55, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his stepson’s manslaughter. He had claimed that Dean had walked into the knife he was holding, and that the death was an accident.
But it was the prosecution’s case that Mahon was drunk, angry and agitated, and that he stabbed his stepson before fleeing the scene and leaving him to die on the street. The convicted killer was acquitted last March 2025, of head-butting his neighbour, Jim Fahy, 73, during a barbecue at Fahy’s home in 2021.
His trial heard the incident began when Mr Fahy allegedly made derogatory remarks to Mahon’s wife Audrey – the mother of Dean and missing Amy, who vanished in 2008.
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