Husband kills teacher wife then turns gun on himself in family home

• Police are not looking for anyone in connection with the deaths of James Harley and his wife Diane, in what was described as a 'domestic incident'. Pictures: PA

James Harley, 51, a taxi driver, and his wife Diane, 47, died in what was described by police as a "domestic incident" in the suburban town of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.

Police sources confirmed Mr Harley shot his wife before killing himself, although the reasons were still unclear last night.

The couple, who had two teenage children, were discovered in a downstairs room at their home shortly after 7:45pm on Tuesday by a police armed response unit. Neither child, a girl aged 17 and a boy, 14, was in the house in St Andrew's Avenue at the time of the shooting.

The property remained cordoned off yesterday for forensic investigations.

The children were being comforted by relatives. Mrs Harley's parents, Fiona and Ian O'Donnell, who live just a street away, were too upset to speak about their daughter's death. Her brother, Jim O'Donnell, said: "We just don't know what to say. My mum is too upset to say anything."

Mrs Harley was a teacher at the nearby Meadowburn primary school. She joined the Glasgow Baseball Association because of her son's interest in the sport and eventually became the coach for the national side.

GBA president Gerry McShane said: "Diane was a very, very devoted mum. Everything was for her kids. She only got into baseball because her son wanted to play and she ended up running the side.

"This has come right out of the blue. You don't expect this kind of thing to happen to your friends."

Daryn McCulloch, 18, who coaches for the GBA, said: "Diane was absolutely brilliant and everyone loved her.

No-one can believe it. I heard about it on the radio and never thought for a minute that it was her. It's terrible and I feel for her two kids."

The Harleys had lived in the quiet street for 14 years. They were regarded as "community people" and Mrs Harley and her son Fraser were members of nearby Bishopbriggs Golf Club. A source at the club yesterday said they were "deeply shocked" by the tragedy.

"She was really active and well-known, and used to bring Fraser along with her to the club," he said. "It has come as a big shock to us and our thoughts are with her family."

The couple's bodies were removed from the house at about 3:30am yesterday after forensic officers spent most of the night at the scene.

Pupils at the school where Mrs Harley worked were said to be devastated yesterday. A spokeswoman for East Dunbartonshire Council added: "We can confirm a teacher at Meadowburn primary school, Mrs Harley, has died.

"Her pupils have been informed of this sad news and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time."

Detective Inspector Stephen Grant of Kirkintilloch CID said: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths of Mr and Mrs Harley.

"I would like to reassure members of the local community that this incident poses no risk or danger to anyone else.

"I can confirm that both had suffered gunshot wounds, but we can't say for certain the exact cause of death.

"Both James and Diane have been removed to the city mortuary and post-mortem examinations will be carried out."

Mr Grant stressed that nobody else had been in the house when police arrived on Tuesday.

A statement from Strathclyde Police added: "A full report will be sent to the procurator-fiscal and post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course to establish the exact cause of death."

The Harleys had both worked in the past for the Edinburgh-based stewarding company Rock Steady and its G4S Events, which took over the firm in 2008.

The company yesterday said in a statement: "Mr Harley left Rock Steady in 1995 prior to the acquisition by G4S, however Mrs Harley continued to work for the company and was consequently employed by G4S Events.

"G4S extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr and Mrs Harley."