TV plea by survivor of fire attack that killed 3

Detectives investigating the triple murder of a man and his two children said they have had a “positive response” following an appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

Thomas Sharkey, 21, died after the family’s flat in Scott Court, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, was deliberately set alight in the early hours of Sunday, 24 July. His eight-year-old sister Bridget died on route to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Six days later, their father, Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, died of pneumonia at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary, caused by smoke inhalation.

Strathclyde Police said more than 20 calls had been received since the appeal aired on Thursday night, which featured an emotional plea from Mr Sharkey’s wife Angela, 46, who was the only family member to survive the blaze.

Mrs Sharkey, who was not well enough to be told of her family’s deaths until almost two weeks after the fire, said: “I have no idea why anyone would want to do this to me and my family. It’s just so unfair they’re gone.”

Police said the additional information they had received would be followed up by detectives leading the inquiry.

However, they are still trying to trace three men seen in the area at around the time the fire broke out, who they believe could be “key witnesses”.

Two were seen in East King Street, walking towards Sinclair Street, at about 4:50am on 24 July. A man in a grey hooded top seen walking in John Street and crossing West Princes Street at around 5am on the same day is also still to be traced.