People found in flat blaze murder hunt

Detectives investigating the murders of a man and his two children in a deliberate flat fire have traced people seen in CCTV images near the scene.

Police said finding them had helped the investigation “considerably”.

Thomas Sharkey, 21, died in the blaze at the family’s home in Scott Court, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, in the early hours of July 24. His eight year-old sister Bridget died shortly after arriving at hospital.

Their father, Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, also died of his injuries at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary on 30 July.

On Friday Strathclyde Police released CCTV images of two people and the occupants of a car they wanted to trace in connection with the inquiry.

Officers said they are not suspects in the case.They have tracked down one man and the occupants of the car.

However they are still looking for a person seen walking north in John Street away from the direction of the waterfront crossing at Helensburgh’s West Princes Street at around 5am on the day of the fire.

Detective Superintendent Peter McPike said: “We can confirm that we have traced the male seen walking in West Clyde Street, Helensburgh and the occupants of the blue Renault Clio. This has assisted the investigation considerably.”