Andrew Murphy was found dead in May last year
Andrew Murphy was found dead in May last year
19:54, 27 Feb 2026Updated 19:59, 27 Feb 2026
The partner of a Wirral dad who was found dead on a beach in Northern Ireland two months after he disappeared believes he was attacked and “thrown into the water”. Andrew Murphy was last seen on March 29 last year when CCTV captured him in a Go Local off licence.
The 47-year-old was last seen wearing an oversized green Michael Kors waterproof rain max down to his knees, a blue dressing gown underneath, blue jeans, black trainers with white soles and carrying a blue Adidas backpack. Merseyside Police issued a number of missing person appeals as his disappearance was described by his family as “totally out of character”.
His body was found by a dog walker on Millisle Beach in County Down, Northern Ireland, on May 21, 2025.
At an inquest held at Downpatrick Courthouse today, Friday, February 27, it was heard Mr Murphy had left his flat at around 10.30am on the morning of March 29 to purchase alcohol, milk, and a fizzy drink for his daughter at the nearby Aldi on Bebington Road, New Ferry.
His partner Sarah Hassall became worried when he did not return after around an hour, as she had given him her bank card, BelfastLive reports. Mr Murphy was described as a “functioning chronic alcoholic”, and going to the shop to purchase alcohol in the morning was part of his daily routine.
When Ms Hassall called him, Andrew said he ran into people and added “I have to pay them money”. When she told him to hurry up and get home, he added “I can’t pay them.” When she attempted to phone him again, she said the call would not connect.
On the afternoon of May 21, 2025, Mr Murphy’s body was found by a dog walker on Millisle Beach. His phone, backpack which contained the items he purchased in Aldi, as well as Ms Hassall’s bank card were found alongside him.
Giving evidence to the inquest, forensic pathologist Dr Hugo Haller-Shannon said he conducted a postmortem examination of Mr Murphy’s body on May 22, 2025. He said one of Mr Murphy’s legs was missing, with this being found on the coast of Scotland in June 2025.
Due to the level of decomposition, no definitive cause of death could be given. He said there was nothing to rule out third-party involvement in Mr Murphy’s death, but there was also nothing to suggest this.
Dr Haller-Shannon also said there was no pathological sign of drowning due to decomposition, but that features of drowning disappear soon after death.
During the examination, he found a “severe” build up of fatty plaque in Mr Murphy’s coronary artery, which caused around 70% narrowing of the arteries around the heart and could have led to a heart attack on impact with the water.
A toxicology report, compiled through a sample of Mr Murphy’s liver, tested for drugs and alcohol. This report showed only traces of cannabis could be found, and it could not be ruled out whether or not he had consumed alcohol at the time of his death. Dr Haller-Shannon concluded the cause of death “could not be ascertained”.
Mr Murphy’s sister Karen Amirlatifi asked the pathologist during the inquest whether Andrew’s two front teeth were missing. Dr Haller-Shannon confirmed his two front incisors were missing, and that he had a fractured nose.
Ms Amirlatifi said: “I believe Andrew was assaulted that day. A few days before he went missing, he was being bullied by another drinker. He was a lone drinker, so wouldn’t have drank on the street.”
The pathologist said it “cannot be ruled out” that Mr Murphy was struck in the face during an altercation. However, Dr Haller-Shannon said his body could have “quite easily” become damaged in this way when travelling across the Irish Sea.
Speaking during the inquest, Mr Murphy’s partner Ms Hassall said she believed he ran into people who would drink on a bench near the River Mersey, due to his claim he “had to pay money.” She said “they have beaten him and thrown him into the water.”
At the time, however, she said she believed he may have been having a “weekend blow-out” before his planned admittance to a rehab facility three days later.
PSNI Detective Constable Walker told the inquest she was the attending officer when a dog walker reported Mr Murphy’s body being found on the beach.
She said Ms Hassall’s bank card, Andrew’s phone, and his backpack were still on his person, with this and fingerprints helping to identify him in collaboration with Merseyside Police, due to a missing persons report.
Delivering his findings, Coroner Joe McCrisken said he is satisfied Mr Murphy entered the River Mersey, with his body travelling to Millisle. He said he “cannot exclude” three circumstances leading to his death: third-party involvement, a heart attack, or an accident.
Coroner McCrisken said Mr Murphy’s cause of death is “unascertained”, and as his family “strongly feel” there was third-party involvement, he will forward his findings to the local coroner in Merseyside as well as Merseyside Police.
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