Murder hunt after fire kills brother and sister

A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a promising young golfer and his eight-year-old sister died when a fire swept through their home.

The victims' parents were last night in a serious condition in hospital following the blaze at their home in the centre of Helensburgh in Argyll.

Police said they had launched a murder inquiry into the deaths of the two youngsters, named locally as Keith Sharkey, 21, and his sister Bridget, aged 8.

The blaze was reported in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A three-street cordon around the scene at Scott Court was sealed off by Strathclyde Police, with heavy scorch marks and at least one broken window visible on the outside of the building.

Neighbours had heard screams, and an off-duty police officer raised the alarm.

One nearby resident, who declined to be named, said he wanted to pull the victims to safety but emergency crews would not let him.

Fire crews forced their way into the burning flat on top floor of the three-floor building and found the young man dead at the scene.

They took his 55-year-old father, his 46-year-old mother and his sister to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Renfrewshire, where the girl died a short time later.

The father, named locally as Thomas Sharkey, was later taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and both he and his wife, Angela, are being treated for serious burns.

Officers said they would not formally release their identities.

Area Commander, Chief Inspector Fergus Byrne, said last night: "Around 5:10am, emergency services were called to a report of a fire at a house in Scott Court.

"Extensive enquiries have been ongoing all day at the scene, including a full crime scene forensic investigation by forensic scientists, Fire Service and Strathclyde Police.

"This investigation is continuing. However, we believe that this fire was started intentionally and the deaths are being treated as murder."

Thomas Jnr was a popular golfer and had last week tied for fourth in a tournament at Helensburgh Golf Club, where flags were lowered yesterday morning to half mast.

Fellow golfers, who had known "Tommy" since he started playing in his youth, said it was still too early to speak about the tragedy.

At the nearby St Joseph's Catholic Church, Rev Peter Lennon told the congregation details of the blaze amid rumours that all four of the family had died as a result of the fire.

The family were well known in the area, and Bridget celebrated her first communion only two months ago.

Rev Lennon, who was visibly upset by the news, said: "They didn't come every Sunday but they were very well known and a good family.

"I was approached just before the morning service by a friend of the family and told they had died as a result of the fire and was asked to say a prayer for them.

"Everybody is in total shock. As soon as I read out the names, some of the younger girls who knew Bridget started crying."A heavy police presence surrounded the building in Scott Court, which includes an Argyll and Bute Council office in its ground floor. Passers by, noticing the closed streets, asked what happened and some were noticeably shaken by news of the fire deaths.

Neighbour Steve Dunn, 41, said: "It's horrendous. I was woken up by sirens about 5am.

"There was panic. And then when we found out what had happened, no one could believe it. It's tragic."

A family friend, who asked not to be named, said: "They're a nice family. They knew everyone. It's a real tragedy."

A member of staff in a local supermarket, who also declined to be named, said: "It's absolutely tragic. The little girl was in here just last night.

"She was very talented and even drew us a card at Easter."

She said the family had recently returned from a trip to the United States to see Thomas, who had been studying there.

The former Our Lady and St Patrick's High pupil has been studying at Georgia Southern University, which he had chosen for its golf facilities, and was a past club junior and senior champion in 2008.

Earlier this month, he competed for the Scottish Fuels Sutherland Chalice at the Dumfries and Galloway Golf Course.

The university also listed his hobbies as "soccer and TV" and "would liked to have witnessed the Celtic winning the European Cup in 1967".

He was described as stating that his grandfather and father had the "biggest influence on his athletic career for teaching him the game of golf".

Thomas Sharkey senior was also well known in the town and a keen charity campaigner for the Smiles for Life Charity to help Yorkhill Hospital.

Earlier this year, he hosted a charity dinner at Victoria Halls in Helensburgh attended by the likes of footballers Andy Goram, Murdo McLeod and Derek Johnstone to raise money for a memorial garden in Arbroath for members of 45 Commando.

Forensic teams spent the day at the scene, while CID officers canvassed nearby residents in the area, just streets away from the busy waterfront.

Last night, Detective Chief Inspector Anne McKerchar, who is leading the investigation, appealed for witnesses.

She said: "This is a tragic event made worse by the fact that it was a deliberate act.

"An incident room has been set up at Dumbarton Police Office, and I would appeal to anyone with any information that may help police enquiries to come forward." She added: "In particular, I would ask anyone who was in the James Street, West Princes Street or West Clyde Street areas of Helensburgh around 0500 hours this (Sunday] morning who may have seen anything suspicious or untoward to contact us as a matter of urgency."

Police said a post mortem would be carried out and a report submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Any witnesses to the fire were asked to contact the Dumbarton incident room on 01389 822059 or to call the Crimestoppers hotline.