Stuart Lubbocks father dies of cancer Terry Lubbock 76 passes away

The father of Stuart Lubbock who was found dead in Michael Barrymore’s swimming pool 20 years ago has died without ever getting justice for his son.

Terry Lubbock, 76, whose son Stuart, 31, died at Barrymore’s then home in Roydon, Essex, in March 2001, said earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Mr Lubbock, a retired toolmaker who lived in Harlow, Essex, had mounted a 20-year campaign for justice for his son.

His friend, and publicist, Harry Cichy said he had died on Wednesday and paid tribute.

Mr Cichy said that he had ‘died sad, because he’s died knowing people never knew the truth about what happened’. 

Terry Lubbock, whose son Stuart was found dead in entertainer Michael Barrymore’s swimming pool

Mr Lubbock had been attending a party at Barrymore’s luxury home in Roydon with eight other people on March 31, 2001

He added: ‘You don’t come across many people like Terry Lubbock. His tenacity and determination were incredible. 

‘He looked like a mild-mannered man, but he had the heart of a lion.’

Mr Cichy added: ‘I knew him for 16 years. He thought about Stuart every waking hour, seven days a week.

‘He’s died sad, because he’s died knowing people never knew the truth about what happened.

Pictured: Stuart Lubbock

‘But no one could have fought harder for their son.’

No one has has been charged in relation to Stuart Lubbock’s death. 

Terry Lubbock had said earlier this year that he would â€˜die of a broken heart’ as police revealed they would not be charging a suspect. 

A man in his 50s was detained on suspicion of murder and sexual assault in March in the North of England after Essex Police said ‘significant new information’ had come to light.

But the force admitted there is ‘insufficient evidence to reach the level where there is a realistic chance of a successful prosecution’ over the death in March 2001.

Mr Lubbock senior, 76, released a harrowing statement laying bare his devastation at the lack of resolution.

The message on Twitter, which was accompanied by a photo of the gaunt pensioner lying on his care home bed, said: ‘Someone knows who killed Stuart Lubbock?

‘I will die of a broken heart. Stuart was murdered at the former home of Michael Barrymore in Roydon, Essex.’

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings, who took over the case in 2018, had insisted the investigation was not closed.

Barrymore (pictured walking his dog with a friend in West London) was one of Britain’s best known stars

Michael Barrymore’s Essex home the morning after the party where Stuart Lubbock died 

But he added there was ‘huge personal disappointment’ among his team. 

A post-mortem examination showed that Stuart Lubbock had suffered severe internal injuries which suggested he had been sexually assaulted.

Alcohol, ecstasy, and cocaine were found in his bloodstream.

A coroner recorded an open verdict.

Mr Lubbock, who was divorced and had another son, Kevin, was fighting for a fresh inquest.

‘A new inquest was what really mattered to him,’ said Mr Cichy.

20/11/18: Michael Barrymore outside the High Court in London

Essex Police arrested a man in March on suspicion of the indecent assault and murder of Stuart Lubbock, and released him without charge in August. Above: Barrymore’s former home

‘He had lost faith in the police.

‘Sadly, he’s died not knowing whether there will be another inquest.’

Mr Lubbock told journalists in February that he had terminal cancer and said doctors had told him that he had months to live.

In April, he made a ‘final appeal’ for witnesses to come forward.

We would like old witnesses to come forward and tell the truth,’ he had said.

‘For me the clock is ticking, and time is running out. This will be my final appeal.’

Barrymore, now 69, was arrested in 2007 but never charged with any offence.

He subsequently sued Essex Police, claiming his wrongful arrest had cost him about £2.5 million in lost earnings, but Court of Appeal judges concluded he should receive nominal damages.

Barrymore’s career imploded in the aftermath of the death, which happened after he and his then partner, Jonathan Kenney, spent the night out in Harlow. 

They went home with a small group of people they met in a club including butcher Mr Lubbock, a divorced father of two.

Barrymore â€" who later apologised after fleeing before police arrived, saying that he had ‘panicked’ â€" has always denied any knowledge of what happened.

The other seven guests present on the night that Mr Lubbock died 

Jonathan Kenney

Kenney, 50, from Blackpool in Lancashire, was Barrymore’s boyfriend at the time of Mr Lubbock’s death.

He was formerly a drag queen but more recently had been working as a driving test examiner.

Kenney, along with Barrymore, invited the other seven guests over to the house after they partied together at the Millennium nightclub in Harlow, Essex.

He was one of three people arrested on suspicion of murder by Essex Police in 2007 before he was later released without charge.

Justin Merritt

Former dustman Justin, 46, was unemployed when he went back to Barrymore’s house along with his sister Kylie.

Reports from the time claimed Justin was an ‘unofficial minder’ to the TV star during that night.

He had walked up to Barrymore outside the nightclub earlier and said: ‘I’ll look after you. I’ll be your security to get you home.’

Mr Merritt claimed to have shared a Jacuzzi with Mr Lubbock and last saw him alive ‘bombing’ in the pool and in high spirits.

He, along with Barrymore and Kenney, were arrested on suspicion of murder before ultimately being released. 

Kylie Merritt 

Kylie was Justin’s sister and had been present with him in the nightclub when Justin had offered to be Barrymore’s minder on the night.

The siblings, along with Barrymore and Mr Lubbock shared a taxi back to the house.

Miss Merritt would later claim that she had then seen Mr Lubbock ‘larking about’ by himself in the swimming pool.

On another occasion, she said she saw Barrymore with two men in a small room near his bedroom door.

She would also claim that Barrymore had produced cocaine on the night and had tried to rub the drug into My Lubbock’s gums, something he denied.

Ms Merritt infamously took a lie detector test for the News of the World, which suggested she was not being truthful when questioned about what happened that day.

James Futers

Mr Futers, 41, was a chef who lived near Barrymore in Roydon, Essex.

He would tell a court how the TV star offered him ‘white powder’ shortly after he arrived at the house for the party.

Later he would add that he believed the drug to be cocaine. 

Mr Futers had met Barrymore on several previous occasions to have a drink and ‘play cards’.

He had been at the nightclub with Barrymore that night and had agreed to go back to his house for an ‘impromptu’ gathering.

Simon Shaw

Mr Shaw had been invited to the party due to his friendship with Barrymore’s neighbour Mr Futers.

During court testimony, he recounted how he spotted Mr Lubbock in the pool and jumped in to help him.

He said he tried to pull him up from the bottom of the pool but found him to heavy, returning for breath before going back and successfully lifting him out.

Mr Shaw then left the home with Mr Futers as he thought ‘what happened was a bit scary’, and was joined by Barrymore.

They all went back to Mr Shaw’s house, where they spoke about what had occurred while Barrymore made phone calls to his ‘PR man’.

Claire Jones and Kelly Campbell 

Ms Jones, a 17-year-old cashier at the time, and her friend Kelly Campbell, both now 37, had only met Barrymore hours early at the nightclub when they were invited back for the party.

She would later tell police how she saw Barrymore rummaging through drawers and changing his clothes before police arrived.

Ms Jones also told police that when Barrymore left the house he had a ‘bundle of material’ under his arm.

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Source: Daily Mail

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