Little boy dies, Ladies Day style award and mum breaks curfew

Good evening, these are the latest ECHO headlines on Friday, April 8.

Boy, 2, with ‘cheekiest smile’ dies after parents kiss him goodnight

A toddler who was “adored by the whole of Liverpool” took his last breath after his parents kissed him goodnight.

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Daniel O’Connor, from Aigburth, died on March 15 with his parents Lisa O’Connor, and Paul O’Connor by his side. Daniel was eight months old when he was diagnosed with NOCGUS syndrome – a severe and extremely rare condition which left him unable to talk, walk or eat and needing round the clock care.

The 19-month-old leaves behind his mum Lisa, 34, dad Paul, 38, and siblings Jasmine, seven, Holly, five, and Koby, one. Paying tribute to Daniel, Lisa said she wants everyone to remember him for his smile which was the “cheekiest smile” you could imagine.

Lisa told the ECHO: “I’d say the whole of Liverpool adored him. Although he didn’t speak and he was tube fed, he gave everyone something else that no other child could give you. I think so many people used to follow Daniel’s journey.

“Daniel had numerous surgeries, he’s been in traumatic situations every single month and nothing phased him. He always had a smile on his face no matter what. Everyone knew him for the smile he had and I don’t want anyone to forget that smile – it was the cheekiest smile.”

Daniel was just eight days old when he was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after suffering from a severe seizure. After undergoing a series of tests he was diagnosed with NOCGUS syndrome, aged eight months old.

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Grand National 2022: Where to buy Ladies Day Style Award winner’s £260 dress

Donna Mulligan was crowned the winner of the Grand National Ladies Day 2022 Style Award today, wearing a stunning red gown.

The Style Award, which is opened to everyone walking through the gates at Aintree Racecourse on Ladies Day, is highly coveted by fashion lovers. Each year, hundreds of men and women spent the first part of their racing day queuing to get their pictures taken, so their outfits could be assessed by the judging panel.

This year, Donna Mulligan took the top prize, wearing a floor-length red gown with cape sleeves, a matching headdress and a pair of gold heels.

Donna couldn’t quite believe her luck after being announced as the winner this afternoon. Following the announcement, Donna said: “Unbelievable, I can’t believe it”. As the winner, she walks away with £5,000 cash, the Ultimate UK Staycation Spa Break with Iconic Luxury Hotels, a £1,000 donation to the winner’s chosen charity, a pair of Garden Club tickets to Ladies Day 2023, a Randox Health package worth £500 and a £500 Never Fully Dressed voucher.

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Mum who broke home curfew blames dodgy internet signal

A mum who breached a home curfew then blamed her dodgy internet signal today walked free from court.

Louise Whelan was handed an 18-month community order in October last year for a catalogue of “disgraceful” offences. They included threatening behaviour – when she claimed to have coronavirus and “threatened to infect” others – assaulting a police officer and a detention officer, and shoplifting.

As part of that sentence, the 31-year-old, of Rankin Street, Poulton, was hit with a four-month home curfew, between 7pm and 7am daily. But the serial offender today admitted failing to comply with the electronically tagged curfew.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that was by notching up nine hours and 55 minutes of “time violations”. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said there had also been “difficulties in gaining entry to deal with the electronic equipment” installed at Whelan’s home.

Paul Becker, defending, said he had spoken with his client, who was “insistent that the problem in relation to the curfew was poor internet signal”. He said: “Obviously I haven’t been to her home address, I’m not quite sure what the difficulty with the provider is.”

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