Dead man’s father questions police actions in Barrymore case

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The father of the young man found dead at Michael Barrymore’s house six years ago has spoken of his disappointment over the way the case has been handled by Essex police.

Meat factory worker Stuart Lubbock was found dead in Barrymore’s swimming pool after a party in March 2001.

In June 2001 Barrymore and two other men were arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

But a year after Mr Lubbock’s death, police decided no charges were to be brought against Barrymore or the other men.

Stuart’s father Terry said today:

“I’ve been in limbo for the past six years. My life has been on hold. I will never get those six years back again. Why has it taken so long?

“I am going to keep on going. I am not going to let my son down, no matter how many disappointments.”

He revealed that the police had not given him any warning of new arrests.

Audio recordings Mr Barrymore made in preparation for a possible biography were seized by police at the weekend from the home of agent Tony Cowell.

In the conversations with Mr Cowell, Barrymore discussed the events of the night Mr Lubbock died.

Mr Cowell, the brother of X Factor judge Simon Cowell, decided to keep the recordings in his safe.

Barrymore’s former agent has confirmed he returned to the UK from New Zealand over a month ago.

Last weekend he attended the final of BBC singing show Any Dream Will Do, accompanied by the former “lifestyle guru” to Cherie Blair, Carole Caplin.

The TV host, who came out as gay in 1995, was attempting to rebuild a professional career shattered by Mr Lubbock’s death.

In September 2002 an inquest into Mr Lubbock’s death recorded open verdict.

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The coroner said that none of the witnesses had given a proper explanation as to how the dead man was found floating in a swimming pool with a significant level of alcohol and drugs in his system and serious anal injuries.

At this point the BBC abandoned plans to publish Barrymore’s autobiography and ITV said it would not commission any further shows featuring the once-popular entertainer.

In September 2003 Barrymore quit his London comeback stage show

after only three nights.

In 2006 he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and he played Scrooge in the show based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at a Wolverhampton theatre last Christmas.

He was arrested today along with two other men on suspicion of murder.

Essex police have confirmed that they seized some tapes from Mr Cowell’s house but would not comment on their contents.

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