Two to stand trial accused of murdering three in Helensburgh fire

TWO MEN will go on trial in April accused of murdering three members of the same family in a fire at their home.

Thomas Sharkey, 55, his daughter Bridget, aged eight, and his 21-year-old son Thomas jnr died following a fire at their house in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, in July 2011.

Robert Jennings, 50, and his 37-year-old co-accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murder.

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They have pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder the children’s mother Angela Sharkey, who survived the blaze.

The pair allegedly poured petrol through the letterbox of the family home while they were asleep.

They will go on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh on April 30 in a case expected to last about eight weeks.

The second accused lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi, a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow heard today.

The charge against them states that on July 24, 2011 they poured petrol or a similar accelerant through the letterbox at the flat in Scott Court and set fire to it.

Mr Sharkey snr was rescued but died of his injuries at Glasgow Royal Infirmary six days later.

Jennings and his co-accused face 23 charges in total. They deny all the charges.

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