A GOOD Samaritan who stepped in to diffuse a drink-fuelled fight at a Darlington workingmen's club has died.

John Lacy, a father-of-three, suffered a suspected brain haemorrhage and died in Middlesbrough General Hospital on Tuesday, nine days after he was attacked by drunken party-goers.

The pensioner, of Fryer Crescent, had been working at Haughton-le-Skerne WMC when he was assaulted after he tried to stop a fracas that broke out between guests at a christening party on May 4.

Several other members of the committee were also attacked after they tried to calm down the situation.

Mr Lacey, a former landlord at The Globe pub in Whessoe Road for 19 years, suffered a heart attack and was taken to the coronary care unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Police said last night the results of a post-mortem examination carried out yesterday by Home Office pathologist Nigel Cooper would determine the future shape of police inquiries.

Last night, Mr Lacy's daughter, Nichola Drake, branded the man who assaulted her father "an animal".

She said: "It has been an absolute nightmare. We just can't believe what has happened. These people are animals.

"When my dad was at Haughton club he suffered a heart attack, but he also banged his head after he was hit in the face. He has had two heart attacks this year and walked with a walking stick.

"He had gone back to the club just doing light duties. He loved the place, there was no keeping him away.

"My mother is very upset and is just about coping. My dad had just got over cancer."

Days after the incident, Mr Lacy suffered a brain haemorrhage and was transferred to Middlesbrough GeneralHhospital where he died a week after his 65th birthday.

A decision had been made to turn off his life-support machine.

Four local men were arrested following the fight and were taken to Darlington police station for questioning. They were later released on police bail pending further inquiries. Nobody has been charged over the incident.

A police spokesman said last night that detectives had interviewed a large number of witnesses to the assault.

He said: "We have spoken to a number of people who were there that evening and we are still keen to speak to anyone else from that night."

Mr Lacy, who also has two grown-up sons who live in Darlington, had been a committee member at the club for several years.

Ms Drake said: "He had been taking tickets at the door that night. Nobody knows how he got to where the incident happened. I can't understand how you can hit a man who walks with a stick.

"There were a couple of nurses in the club that night who helped to resuscitate him and they were hit with a chair while they were doing it."

Ms Drake said the family were also angry at the way Mr Lacy had been treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

"He complained of head-aches and dizziness but they said it was down to his diabetes," she said.

"The hospital said he had no injuries but I know his tongue was cut and his mouth had been bleeding after he was hit."

A spokeswoman for South Durham Health Care NHS Trust said: "Our thoughts are with Ms Drake. We would encourage her to contact us if she has any concerns about her father's care so that we can look into them for her."