Sharkey fire murder trial: DJ tells of pub fire

A businessman who later died along with his two children after a house fire was left “gutted, devastated and speechless” when a pub he was renovating was burned down, a court has heard.

The Helensburgh flat. Picture: PA

DJ Scott Sinclair, 25, told the High Court in Glasgow that he had been approached by Thomas Sharkey Snr to work at The Mariners pub in West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, which was just weeks from opening.

Mr Sinclair, who lives in the town, said he had met Mr Sharkey three times for lunch and that he was “very enthusiastic” about the new venture.

After the fire on April 19 2010, which caused extensive damage to the pub, Mr Sinclair said he met Mr Sharkey and that he was “gutted, devastated and speechless”.

The court heard Mr Sinclair had also been a part-time DJ at The Garth Inn in Helensburgh the year before, which had also been badly damaged in a blaze.

Accelerant

Scott Snowden, 37, and Robert Jennings, 50, are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow, where they deny murdering three members of a family by pouring petrol or something similar through their letterbox and setting fire to it.

Thomas Sharkey Jnr, 21, and his eight-year-old sister Bridget died in the blaze at their Scott Court home in Helensburgh in the early hours of Sunday July 24 2011.

Their father, 55-year-old Thomas Sharkey Snr, died of his injuries in hospital six days later.

Snowden and Jennings also deny wilful fireraising at The Mariners pub and The Garth Inn by pouring petrol, or a similar accelerant, though a broken window.

Between them, the pair face 22 charges, all of which they deny.

Both men have lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi, with Snowden claiming he was in Mexico when the fire at the Sharkey home started while Jennings claims he was at home in Helensburgh.