Flowers have been laid on the desk of “rising star” council worker Ashley Dale as devastated colleagues pay tribute following her “senseless” murder.
Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan said the gesture was made by members of her team at the council “hit especially hard” by the loss of the “passionate” environmental health officer who died after being found shot in the back yard of her Old Swan home in the early hours of August 21.
Speaking at a meeting of Knowsley Council’s cabinet last week (September 7), Cllr Morgan said: “The council lost a rising star when she was tragically and senselessly killed.”
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He added: “Myself and Cllr Powell have met with Ashley’s team and it goes without saying they are absolutely devastated by her loss.
“Ashley had been involved in supporting many elected members, all of whom have commented on how positively she approached her work and how very supportive she was.”
Cllr Morgan spoke of Ashley’s career since joining Knowsley Council in 2017 as an environmental health enforcement officer.
Ashley, 28, had been recently promoted to environmental health officer and was working towards chartered status before her death.
Cllr Morgan said: “Being an officer isn’t an easy job, it requires individuals to be passionate and supportive. Ashley had these characteristics in abundance.”
He spoke of Ashley’s “desire to support the most vulnerable in society” and how at her first interview with the council she told of work she had done with patients at the end of their lives.
He said: “She brought this compassion in her work with the council”, recalling times when Ashley had gone above and beyond to ensure vulnerable residents felt supported.
Cllr Morgan also spoke of the work Ashley did coordinating public burials, a role he said she took “very seriously” to ensure those without friends and family were buried “with dignity.”
He added: “Ashley was hard working, diligent and very much a team player. Her work for the council made a difference in people’s lives.
“Today her desk does not sit empty. Instead, there are flowers on it.
“A message from her colleagues reads ‘Ashley, forever young, forever missed’ – a sentiment we all share.”
Cllr Morgan also paid tribute to “much loved and popular pupil” Olivia Pratt-Korbel, a pupil of St Margaret Mary’s Roman Catholic Junior School in Knowsley who was murdered in her own home on the evening of August 22.
Olivia was at home with her mum and older siblings in Dovecot when a gunman, in pursuit of convicted burglar Joseph Nee, burst through the door at around 10pm. Nee had forced his way into the house after noticing Olivia’s mum open the door to see what was going on outside.
Cllr Morgan said: “She was just nine years old when killed as a result of a dispute absolutely nothing to do with her or her family.
“It is unbelievable she is not the first innocent child in our city region to lose their life as a result of criminal gangs.”
Cllr Morgan also paid tribute to charity worker Karen Dempsey, who was killed following an altercation outside of a Kirkby pub on August 22.
Karen Dempsey, 55, was found with a stab wound to the chest following an incident outside the Brambles Pub on Cherryfield drive. She was rushed to hospital where she died a short time later.
Cllr Morgan spoke of the work she was doing with Knowsley Council to secure a community asset transfer as Karen was in the middle of setting up a community group to provide debt and welfare advice before her death.
He said: “She was a devoted grandmother who has given so much to the community in Kirkby.”
Before cabinet members held a minutes silence, Cllr Morgan appealed for people with information to come forward.
He said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ashley, Karen and Olivia.
“Once again I would urge anyone with any information about Ashley and Olivia’s murders to contact Merseyside Police.”
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