Final farewell to fire-death children

STILL wearing bandages to cover her burns, Angela Sharkey, mother of Thomas and Bridget Sharkey, attended her children’s funeral.

Angela Sharkey, whose husband Thomas also died as a result of the fire deliberately started at the family home, comforted friends and relatives who came to remember Thomas, 21, and Bridget, eight. All three deaths are being treated as murder.

Family priest Father Peter Lennon told the congregation of St Joseph’s Church in Helensburgh yesterday: “This whole incident was a tragedy, like a pall hanging over the town.

“But out of something so bad has come something good. It has united Helensburgh together through sorrow and grief.”

Mrs Sharkey, who was accompanied by her 87-year-old father and her sister, said she appreciated the good wishes of others in the town.

The order of service said: “Angela welcomes you to this service of celebration and thanksgiving for the lives of her darling children Thomas and Bridget.

“Angela and her family would like to express their sincere and grateful thanks to you for all the cards, flowers and many messages of comfort received since Thomas and Bridget went to the magic kingdom in the sky.”

The fire took place at Scott Court in the early hours of 24 July. Thomas junior, a promising young golfer, died at the scene and his sister, Bridget, died on her way to hospital.

Mr Sharkey senior, who was 55, climbed out of a window to raise the alarm but died six days later in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.Mrs Sharkey, who was seriously injured in the fire, was the only member of the family to survive and spent two weeks in an induced coma, unaware that her children had died.

On a recent BBC Crimewatch programme, she said: “I have no idea why anyone would want to do this to me and my family. It's just so unfair that they're gone.

“It’s still sinking in, obviously. But I’ve got to face it. It will be made easier if I have a reason or somebody can explain to me why they felt the need to go this far.”

St Joseph’s Primary School headteacher Ann Chalmers, who taught both Thomas junior and Bridget, said: “It has shocked us all. It’s very hard to comprehend.

“The whole school and the wider community of Helensburgh has been devastated by their deaths.”

Brownie leader Beverley Clarke said of Bridget: “She just made such a difference to our unit and was a big part of it, and it’s a very big hole that’s left. We remember her all the time.

“She was very caring towards the other girls and the other Brownies and always willing to help.”

Claire Thomson, assistant guider and Snowy Owl, said: “The service today was very sad but it was nice, it was a very fitting tribute to both Bridget and Thomas.

“The number of people there just showed how much support there is in Helensburgh for Angela and how shocked everybody is. They want to come out and pay their respects.”

Police said there had been a positive response to the Crimewatch appeal. However, they still want to trace two people seen in the local area in Helensburgh around the time of the fire.