Two charged over family fire deaths

Two men appeared in court charged in connection with the murders of a father and two children in a fire at their home.

Thomas Sharkey, 55, his son Thomas Jnr, 21, and daughter Bridget, eight, died following the incident in Scott Court, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, on 24 July last year.

Mr Sharkey senior died in hospital six days after the incident. His son, on a visit home from university in the US, died at the scene. Bridget died on the way to hospital.

Their mother, Angela Sharkey, then 46, was injured in the blaze.

Robert Jennings and a man who cannot be named for legal reasons appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court yesterday charged with wilful fire-raising, murder and attempted murder.

Jennings, 39, from Helensburgh, was also charged with a further five counts of wilful fire-raising, attempted fire-raising and assault to severe injury.

The other man was charged with a further six counts of wilful fire-raising, attempted fire-raising, assault, assault to severe injury and breach of the peace.

Neither man made any plea or declaration and both were remanded in custody ahead of a further court appearance this month.