Seaside town attacker's sibling worried he would commit murder, hearing hears
The older brother of the Southport attacker revealed his mother and father "lost control" of their offspring and he worried his brother would fatally harm a individual of their family, a public inquiry has been told.
The individual, aged 17 at the time, killed three kids at a Taylor Swift-themed lesson on July 29, 2024.
The Southport Inquiry, held at Liverpool Town Hall, was told the attacker's brother the older brother warned a friend there was a risk of his brother "committing an act potentially fatal."
The hearing was told the brother messaged his contact over the Discord messaging app: "Arguments are terrifying because of the danger of loss of life."
The sibling testified his relative resembled the violent character in the movie the Coen brothers film.
Rising Hostility
The inquiry learned the brother was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder at the age of 12 which led to him needing mobility assistance and his parents helping him more.
In response to the inquiry counsel, legal representative, if that affected their bond he said: "Conflict arose that came about."
He agreed his brother showed bitterness toward this change.
He testified the investigation that after the family relocated from their previous home to their new location his sibling's temperament worsened and he would have "aggressive episodes."
The hearing was informed he became "progressively concerned" of his brother, who would physically assault him frequently.
He testified: "I needed to be careful if I tried to communicate to him because every argument could escalate into an argument."
'Real worries'
He revealed his sibling became much more aggressive after he was removed from Range High School in Formby, Merseyside, in autumn 2019.
Dion left for university in the following period and the siblings communicated rarely "because he was not familiar with having me around."
Proceedings was told about a communication he messaged a acquaintance on the platform in which he mentioned his brother was angered by him speaking late at night because of the poor insulation in their residence.
He also told his friend there was a risk of "him taking action that could kill."
He stated: "The fights are terrifying because of the threat of someone dying."
Mr Boyle asked: "You were genuinely concerned that your brother would murder a individual of your household?"
Dion replied: "Should situations worsen to that extent."
The counsel questioned how his mother and father reacted to the relative's physical conduct.
"It was pointless to attempt to discipline him," he said. "Moreover, there was a serious threat in doing so.
"We mentioned there was a overall danger to life in casual discussion, if you seek to address him... it could provoke violence."
When the lawyer inquired if his mother and father had been unable to handle of his sibling, he concurred.
Questioned regarding his sibling reminding him of a character from the picture No Country for Old Men, Dion said: "I heard that figure's intended as a dangerous individual and that's why I employed that term there."
The brother testified the previous encounter he had with his brother was in the summer of 2023.
He acknowledged that their family told the killer to take leave to him as he was leaving to see his friends and his brother threw a bottle at him but the exit was secured before it made contact.
The hearing ongoing.