Stabbing victim’s mother reveals son’s final text message after BWS stabbing

The mum of a young man who died after being stabbed while working at a bottle shop has said her “heart and soul are broken”.

Declan Laverty was stabbed while working at The Darwin Tavern's attached BWS bottle shop on Sunday night.

A young man who was killed in a stabbing at a Darwin bottle shop texted his parents to tell them he had been hurt and that he loved them before he died.

Declan Laverty was working at The Airport Tavern’s attached BWS in Jingili on Sunday night when he was allegedly attacked with a knife, with emergency services arriving to find the 20-year-old had died at the scene.

Police allege the man responsible fled in a vehicle. The 19-year-old man was arrested on Monday and charged with murder and aggravated robbery.

His mother Samara Laverty said the text she received, which read: “I love you mum, I’ve been stabbed, was the last she’d ever hear from “her boy”.

Declan Laverty was stabbed while working at The Darwin Tavern's attached BWS bottle shop on Sunday night.

“He was meant to come home soon for a visit,” Ms Laverty told The Cairns Post.

“My heart and soul are broken.”

She said his journey would “never be fulfilled”.

“He will never fall in love.

“He will never marry.

“He will never be a dad.

“His life, his future, our future have been completely stripped away.”

Mr Laverty’s father, who declined to be named, called radio station Mix 104.9 on Monday morning, where he shared his son’s tragic final text.

He told host Katie Woolf Mr Laverty was “a wonderful, opinionated, strong lad” who had only moved to the Northern Territory from Cairns, Queensland, two years ago.

Declan Laverty was stabbed while working at The Darwin Tavern's attached BWS bottle shop on Sunday night.

The 20-year-old's last text message to his father has been revealed.

“He loved his football, and he was really into music at the moment,” Declan’s father said.

“He was trying to get some songs released and working 30-odd hours at the pub at the airport.

“He’s had a screwdriver pulled on him only a few weeks ago. One of the other staff members has been physically attacked and he couldn’t come back to work.

“They get attacked quite often at that particular one as far as I am aware.

“He was looking for another job. He just couldn’t handle it anymore.

“It’s getting very, very bad out there for everyone. Whether it’s my son or someone else, something needs to be done.”

A GoFundMe set up by a friend of the family has revealed how close Mr Laverty was with his father.

“Apart from being father and son they shared a unit and were like frat buddies,” the post read.

“Watched their fav tv series watched their sports and had some great laughs.”

Proceeds from the GoFundMe, which has already raised $3,120 of its $10,000 goal, will go toward his father’s share of the funeral costs and travel to Cairns for the ceremony.

“(Declan’s father) also needs time to grieve and only newly changed jobs he will be stressed about his days to days expenses and need to be able to grieve and heal in his own time,” it read.

Endeavour Group, which owns The Airport Tavern, released a statement confirming Mr Laverty’s death.

“Following a serious incident last night at BWS drive-through bottle shop at The Airport Tavern in Darwin, a team member has tragically passed away,” Endeavour Group chief executive Steve Donohue wrote.

Declan's father called a Darwin radio station on Monday, describing how workers at the BWS are often subject to violence.

“Despite best efforts to revive the team member, he died at the scene. Our thoughts are with the team member’s family, friends and loved ones.

“We thank the emergency service workers who attended the scene. We will offer counselling and support to all our team members in Darwin across BWS and ALH Hotels and the team member’s family.

“The incident is now being investigated by NT Police.”

The GoFundMe raising funds for the boy’s father can be found here.