Ryan Kirkpatrick (24 years old) was repeatedly stabbed in the back by a masked attacker. This happened in front of horrified people at a Carlisle bar on 18 September 2021. The prosecution heard that there was an altercation between Hull, Mr Kirkpatrick and 15 minutes prior to the stabbing. In which the killer attempted to attack his victim with a glass, the trial heard.
Hull, who has no fixed address, returned from Carlyle’s Court in a balaclava to stab Mr Kirkpatrick. Porter, of Fulmar Place, was also present at the scene and helped to plan the attack as a “team murder”. The court heard that there had been “bad blood” between the men. Hull was sentenced to 18 months for possessing an offensive weapon and affray after Kirkpatrick was attacked and chased into a gambling shop.
Hull and Porter were both arrested in Republic of Ireland 10 day after the murder. They had used false names and stolen cars with fake plates to travel to Scotland first, then to Northern Ireland by ferry. Ryan Kirkpatrick’s murder, They were found at Carracastle in County Mayo, with Hull hiding in an attic.
After the sentencing Det Ch Sut Mick Bird of Cumbria Police described the killing as “a shocking attack that robbed an young man of his lives”. He said that the investigation that resulted was “one the most significant, resource-intensive,” the force has conducted in recent years. “This was a planned assault which intended to cause serious injuries and the perpetrators then fled the country leaving this young man to die.”
Hull was carrying a knife and both of their faces were covered when the duo returned 15 minutes later. Hull ran straight to Ryan, stabbing him several times before he drove off in his Volvo car with Porter. Ryan died that evening at 9.22pm despite the best efforts of his friends and emergency services.
Ryan’s death was investigated by the police. The fire department alerted them to the Volvo car that Ryan and Carlyle had used to travel to Carlyle’s court twice. Shortly after, the car was set on fire in Burgh.
The Court heard that Porter and Hull tried to hide their tracks by wearing masks and setting the car on fire. They then swapped phones with others and fled the country. They then traveled to Northern Ireland and then to the Republic of Ireland. Authorities then located them and extradited them.
Since the beginning of the investigation, the CPS worked closely with Cumbria Police to present a strong case to the jury. This included eyewitness evidence and CCTV. The jury was able to determine that Ryan’s death was caused by both of them.
“When it became clear that the couple were in Ireland, the CPS with the support of Cumbria Police applied to the Irish authorities to extradite Hull, Porter, and to obtain the evidence necessary for the trial. Ryan’s family is in my thoughts. I hope they can find some comfort knowing that Ryan’s murderers have been found guilty. Ryan Kirkpatrick’s murder, Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Bird, the senior investigating officer in charge of the case stated that “these two men denied their participation in this horrible crime.”
