Builder in dispute with Michael Owen found dead

A builder embroiled in a £1.2m legal battle with the England footballer Michael Owen was found dead yesterday in an apparent suicide.

A builder embroiled in a £1.2m legal battle with the England footballer Michael Owen was found dead yesterday in an apparent suicide.

David Michael Flynn, 51, was pronounced dead at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital after the emergency services were called to his home in north Shropshire. A police spokesman for West Mercia police said Mr Flynn, who was known by his middle name, was taken to hospital from Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton, in the early hours of the morning. "He was certified dead at the hospital soon after," the spokesman added. Detective Inspector Pete Clarke said the death was being treated as "unexplained" but it is understood that officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the inquiry. Mr Flynn's wife Sue, 45, is being comforted by friends.

Mr Owen, 24, won a court order last month to freeze Mr Flynn's assets following claims that work on the footballer's home - the Grade II-listed Lower Soughton Hall in Flintshire, north Wales - was allegedly not carried out. Mr Owen shares the £1.6m home with his girlfriend, Louise Bonsall, 23.

Judge Brendan Hegarty, sitting at Manchester county court on 12 February, said he was making no judgment on the merits of the issue but said the evidence took the case "out of the ordinary run of business disputes".

The Liverpool striker's case centred on a claim that Mr Flynn tricked Mr Owen's mother, Jeanette Owen, into paying for work which was not due. Mr Flynn denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Owen alleged that the builder transferred money from a project bank account for unauthorised purposes, including an allegation that he bought a property in Portugal. The footballer alleged that the false claims for work amounted to £590,974 and that unauthorised transfers totalled £613,833.

Owen Promotions Ltd, a company set up by the footballer, restored a freezing order on Mr Flynn's assets at the court hearing on 12 February.

Mr Flynn, who has two teenage children, did not attend the hearing, but in evidence put before the court claimed he once had a close social relationship with the Owen family. The tradesman alleged that the case had been brought in response to separate legal proceedings instigated by him.

In February Mr Flynn told the Daily Post: "I am happy that both of us will have the chance to have our say in court in May. My assets have been frozen to £875,000 but they [Owen Promotions] have had to put a guarantee into court of £900,000 in case they damage me and are proved wrong.

"I have no doubt that it will be shown that I have done nothing wrong."

It was reported that Mr Flynn claimed the action was launched because he had sued the fiancé of Mr Owen's sister Karen over an alleged unpaid loan worth £150,000.

A spokesman for Mr Owen said the player was "shocked and saddened" by the death.

A spokesman for Mr Owen's agents, SFX, said: "Everyone involved in this litigation are shocked and saddened to hear of Mr Flynn's sudden death.

"They would like to extend their sympathies to Mr Flynn's family and friends."