The daughter of a woman who was brutally killed in her own bedroom has shared the ongoing trauma she experiences after hearing the deadly attack through a doorbell.
Natasha Flynn-Farrell, 38, witnessed Dean Mears, 34, unlawfully entering her mother’s residence in Rhyl, North Wales, last October.
The distressing intrusion was captured by Catherine Flynn’s Ring doorbell camera, and Natasha, monitoring the live feed remotely, could only cry out helplessly as Mears forcibly entered the house.
Shortly after, she listened in horror as 69-year-old Catherine, who was frail, had multiple health issues, and used a Zimmer frame, was forcibly removed from her bed and viciously assaulted.
The audio recording captured the sound of 15 brutal impacts as Mears carried out his fatal attack.
When law enforcement arrived, Mears had already fled the scene and tried to discard his bloodied garments. Catherine, a cherished mother of four, later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, which a pathologist likened to injuries from high-velocity car accidents.
Mears, a drug user, later asserted that he was too intoxicated to recollect the assault. In June, he was given a 28-year prison sentence for the murder.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Natasha depicted her mother as the cornerstone of the family, stating, “Mum was our matriarch – our Queenie. She adored her children and grandchildren. She was kind, generous, and always there for us. The way she died was so brutal, so senseless. No punishment will ever be enough.”
Natasha continues to battle severe PTSD and mentions that even hearing a doorbell on TV shows now triggers flashbacks to the night of the attack.
Catherine, known as Cathy, had been in deteriorating health since her husband Mick’s passing in 2011. Despite her health challenges – including COPD, emphysema, arthritis, and a leaky heart valve – she remained fiercely independent and close to her family.
“She was petite – like a little doll – but strong in spirit. I saw her every day. I assisted with her meals and appointments. We were more than mother and daughter – we were best friends.”
Just four days before the tragedy, the family had gone out to reserve their initial Christmas meal at a restaurant. Catherine, who cherished Christmas, was eagerly anticipating the occasion.
On the night of the crime, Natasha was awaiting her mother’s usual bedtime call at 10:30 pm. Instead, she received a Ring doorbell notification on her phone.
“I witnessed a man breaking in and smashing the window. Then I heard the thuds – and my mum pleading with him to stop.”
Natasha shouted through the camera’s speaker, dialed 999, and rushed to the house, but officers prevented her from entering.
“I convinced myself she was safe – that maybe he had just broken in and left. However, at the hospital, they informed us that her injuries were irreparable. All the bones in her face were shattered.”
Catherine never regained consciousness. The next day, the family made the anguishing decision to withdraw life support.
“I held her hand, and we said a prayer. I reassured her, ‘Don’t worry, Mum – Dad is waiting for you.’ And then she passed away.”
Dean Mears was swiftly apprehended by the authorities, although he was unknown to the family. He subsequently admitted to manslaughter but refuted the murder accusation, asserting a lack of memory of the incident. The jury disagreed.
At Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Rhys Rowlands remarked, “You dragged her from her bed and stamped on her 15 times, breaking every bone in her face. She was tiny, frail, and terrified – but you showed no mercy. This was murder for gain. You are a dangerous individual.”
Natasha continues to receive assistance from law enforcement and family liaison officers but acknowledges that the anguish never truly diminishes. “He shattered our lives. But Mum will always be remembered. She was pure gold.”
