The chilling spectre of organised crime in Liverpool has been cast into the spotlight once again as Thomas Cashman, the former soldier convicted of the brutal murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, returned to court. His appearance has dragged a notorious family group, described by one judge as an "outlawed tribe," back into the public consciousness, unravelling a dark history of violence, intimidation, and terror that has plagued the city's streets for years.
Cashman's connection to this shadowy network, known as the Della family, provides a disturbing context to his heinous crime. This is not just the story of one man's downfall, but a deeper look into a criminal enterprise that has operated with impunity, leaving a trail of arson, shootings, and shattered lives in its wake.
Key Takeaways
- Thomas Cashman, convicted of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, is back in court facing new charges related to perverting the course of justice.
- Cashman is linked to the notorious Della crime family, a group with a long and violent history in Liverpool.
- The Della family, including key figures like James 'Pancake' Taylor and Kirk 'The Turk' Doolan, have been involved in numerous arson attacks and firearms incidents.
- A judge once described the group as an "outlawed tribe" due to their disregard for the law and their violent internal feuds that spill onto public streets.
- The ongoing legal proceedings against Cashman and his associate Paul Russell highlight the complex web of intimidation and loyalty within these criminal networks.
The Return of a Killer: Cashman in the Dock
Thomas Cashman, 35, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court via video link from HMP Wakefield, the high-security prison where he is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years. The man who horrified the nation with the senseless killing of a child now faces fresh allegations. He is accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, a charge stemming from alleged attempts to intimidate a key witness in his murder trial.
The new charges allege that Cashman, along with his associate Paul Russell, conspired to threaten and intimidate Joseph Nee, the intended target of the shooting that tragically claimed Olivia's life. According to the prosecution, the plot aimed to prevent Nee from cooperating with the police investigation, a classic tactic used by organised crime groups to silence witnesses and derail justice.
Paul Russell, 42, who was previously jailed for assisting an offender after he drove Cashman away from the murder scene, also appeared in court. He faces the same conspiracy charge, painting a picture of a coordinated effort to manipulate the legal process from behind bars.
Background: The Murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel
On August 22, 2022, Thomas Cashman pursued convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee onto Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot. As Nee tried to force his way into the home of Cheryl Korbel, Cashman fired indiscriminately. One bullet passed through the front door, striking Cheryl in the wrist before fatally wounding her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia. The shocking crime sent waves of revulsion across the country and sparked a massive police manhunt.
An 'Outlawed Tribe': Unmasking the Della Family
To understand Thomas Cashman's actions, one must look at the criminal environment that shaped him. He was a known associate of the Della family, a notorious organised crime group based in the Dovecot area of Liverpool. Their reputation for extreme violence is well-documented, with a history steeped in gun crime and arson.
The group's name became infamous during a 2018 court case involving a campaign of terror waged against a rival family. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Denis Watson KC, delivered a scathing assessment of their operations.
"The background to these offences is a feud between two families in the Dovecot area of Liverpool. Your family, the Della family, are one of those involved. You are an outlawed tribe, a law unto yourselves, and it is that which has resulted in this terrifying series of offences."
This judicial condemnation perfectly encapsulates the group's ethos: a complete and utter disregard for the law and the safety of the wider community. Their internal disputes frequently escalate into public warfare, with innocent people often caught in the crossfire.
Key Figures and Their Crimes
The Della network is comprised of several key players, each with a violent criminal record:
- James 'Pancake' Taylor: A prominent member, Taylor was jailed for his role in the 2018 arson campaign. His actions included orchestrating a firebombing that left a woman and her two children cowering in an attic, fearing for their lives.
- Kirk 'The Turk' Doolan: Another central figure, Doolan was also imprisoned for the same series of attacks. He was described as a "foot soldier" carrying out orders, highlighting the hierarchical nature of the gang.
- Jamie 'The Head' MacLean: MacLean was sentenced alongside Taylor and Doolan for his involvement in the vendetta. Their collective actions demonstrated a chilling willingness to use arson as a weapon of intimidation.
A Campaign of Terror: The 2018 Arson Attacks
The series of attacks in 2018 included multiple firebombings. In one incident, a car was set ablaze and pushed towards a family home, setting the property alight. In another, a lit canister of petrol was thrown through a living room window, forcing the family inside to flee. These weren't random acts; they were calculated messages of terror designed to settle scores and assert dominance.
A Web of Violence and Intimidation
The Della family's history is a litany of violence that long predates the 2018 attacks. In 2004, James Taylor was shot by a gunman on a scrambler bike, an incident that was believed to be a catalyst for further retaliatory violence. Taylor himself was later jailed for six years after being caught with a loaded handgun, ammunition, and a silencer in his car.
The group's criminal activities are not confined to feuds. Their operations are deeply rooted in the drug trade, with violence used to protect their turf and enforce their will. This lucrative but dangerous business model fuels the cycle of conflict that has blighted communities like Dovecot for decades.
Thomas Cashman's association with this group places his actions on that fateful August night into a chilling context. His pursuit of Joseph Nee was not a random act of violence but likely part of a wider dispute between rival criminal factions. Olivia Pratt-Korbel was the ultimate innocent victim, a casualty of a war she had no part in.
The Enduring Threat and the Path to Justice
While the conviction of Thomas Cashman was a significant victory for law enforcement, his recent court appearance is a stark reminder that the fight against organised crime is far from over. The allegations that he attempted to pervert the course of justice from his prison cell show the arrogance and reach of these criminal networks.
Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service remain resolute in their efforts to dismantle these groups. A spokesperson for the CPS confirmed the charges against Cashman and Russell, stating their commitment to pursuing justice.
As the legal process continues, the community of Dovecot is left to heal from the deep scars left by the Della family's reign of terror. The memory of Olivia Pratt-Korbel serves as a tragic symbol of the devastating human cost of gang warfare. For the authorities, dismantling the power structure of this "outlawed tribe" remains a critical priority to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.