Dead mugger's family disappointed

Liam Kilroe was stabbed with his own knife, the inquest heard

A mugger who was stabbed to death by a shopkeeper he had attacked "like a pit bull" was denied justice at an inquest, his mother has claimed.

Liam Kilroe, 25, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, died from a single stab wound to the chest after trying to rob Tony Singh in the town in February.

Lancashire coroner Dr James Adeley recorded a verdict of misadventure at Preston Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Speaking afterwards, Linda Kilroe said she was disappointed with the verdict.

Delivering his verdict, Dr Adeley said: "I am of the view that as Mr Kilroe was holding the knife at the time of the fatal wound the verdict of unlawful killing is not open to me.

"In my view, however the knife entered Mr Kilroe's chest it was a result of a deliberate action which he took."

Mr Singh was not prosecuted over the death

But speaking outside court, Kilroe's mother said her son had been failed by the system.

She said: "Liam has been portrayed as a career criminal with a string of violent offences. This is not the case, he was a loving son and a caring father.

"He had no motive to rob Mr Singh, he had a substantial amount of money in his bank.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the verdict but it was not unexpected and we are left with many unanswered questions because of police eagerness to put this down to a robbery gone wrong."

Mrs Kilroe said the family now hoped to pursue a civil action against Mr Singh, who police said had been the victim of an "unprovoked and violent" robbery.

The inquest heard that Kilroe smashed the window of Mr Singh's silver Ford Focus and demanded the shop's takings - £2,000 - as he left the Lifestyle Express store in Birleywood Road on 17 February.

'Violent robbery'

Mr Singh told the inquest Kilroe "went at him like a pit bull", punching, kicking and biting him as he demanded the money.

James Barker, who witnessed the struggle, told the inquest the two men were "both giving as good as they got".

Dr Adeley told the inquest that although witnesses saw Mr Singh punching Kilroe, "none have described him stabbing him".

Mr Singh, who suffered a series of injuries, was arrested after the incident but police later recommended he should not be prosecuted.

The inquest heard Kilroe had a history of burglary, assault and armed robbery and at the time of the attack was on bail for armed robbery charges. He was due in court the following day.

Speaking after the hearing, a spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "Lancashire Police would once again like to offer their sympathy to the family of Liam Kilroe following the tragic events of Sunday February 17 2008.

"Our thoughts also remain with Tony Singh, who was the victim of an unprovoked and violent robbery as he went about his lawful business."