A GRIEF-STRICKEN family say they will continue their battle to get justice after an inquest ruled a violent attack caused a grandfather’s death.

Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley ruled that Frank Milligan died of a stroke that had been caused from the stress of a violent fracas outside the Upmarket 22 cafe in May 2016.

His wife Susan said the group were “like hyenas” encouraging each other and spoiling for a fight.

But manslaughter charges against three of the group were dropped, while two others who were arrested were never charged.

Mr Milligan’s family spoke to The Argus outside court, where daughter Natalie Cadman said she hopes the Crown Prosecution Service will meet with the family again.

She said: “This inquest acknowledged that there was an assault on my father. We heard that from various professionals from multiple agencies, everyone said the same thing.

“The coroner has worked for two years trying to build a picture of us as a family and our father, to understand what happened on the night.

“The court case didn’t paint the whole picture. Today was the chance to tell the whole story. The coroner told a very sensitive story, very factually.”

She said the family will seek advice on what steps they should take next.

Son Scott Milligan said his partner Darren Wynne was in the shop that night and was attacked.

He praised Judge Guy Anthony for his comments at the sentencing hearing, for telling Joshua Hewes, John Venn and Hayden Garratt that he hoped they had “lurking doubts” that they had caused Mr Milligan’s death.

Mrs Milligan originally dialled 999 to report him having a stroke that night, just hours after they had danced to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now in the cafe.

She had wondered if she could have spotted the signs earlier, but was told by Mrs Hamilton-Deeley that there was nothing more she could have done.

Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Carr led the criminal inquiry, and she said that while Mr Milligan might not have been a healthy man, she still pursued a manslaughter charge.

“I think that this incident contributed to Frank’s death,” she said.

Dr Alex Harrison was the critical care specialist who led the team treating Mr Milligan in intensive care.

He ruled out that one man pressing his head against Mr Milligan had caused the stroke.

But he said there was a “sudden” onset of “subtle clinical symptoms” following the incident.

“There is a clear change that happens with Frank’s brain function around the time of the altercation,” he said.

The family praised the coroner, the police for their investigation, and also praised Dr Harrison and his team for their “dignity, respect and care”.

“You left us feeling that despite the difficult situation and circumstances, you all did the best you could, we felt he was so well cared for,” they said.