Fire charge couple risk funeral outrage

The funerals of six children killed in a house fire may have to be private because of fears for the safety of their parents.

Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, are accused of murdering their six children in the blaze in Derby on 11 May.

As they appeared in court last week to face the charges relating to the deaths of ten-year-old Jade Philpott and her brothers, Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, there were angry outbursts inside and outside the court.

In the days after the fire the local community lent its support to the husband and wife, but opinion has changed since police charged them with the killings.

Philpott, said to have fathered 17 children, and his wife are both in custody and are thought to have applied for compassionate leave to attend the funerals at Derby Cathedral, which they wanted to be public.