On the night of Michael’s death, he went back to the house in Huyton along with O’Connor, Binsteed, and several others after a night in the Crown pub, in Prescot.
They drank heavily until after dawn and then O’Connor and other unidentified people beat Mr Causer so badly a blood clot formed on his brain.
They then carried him out on to the road and made up a story that he had been attacked by three strangers.
Despite surgery, he died on August 7.
O’Connor’s defence, outlined by Lisa Judge, was that he had intended to cause grievous bodily harm and not to kill Michael, and that the attack was not homophobic in nature.
She described O’Connor as a loveable, likeable, chap who helps underprivileged children.
Speaking after the sentencing, Tommy McIlravey, chairman of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender network, said: “I’m really disappointed for Michael and his family. Justice hasn’t been done.”
