Woman Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder After 5 Children Die In Housefire.

[Marv]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...of-murder.html

The father of the five children killed in a house fire has been named as Mick Philpott, an employed man who previously made the news for having families with his wife and mistress living under the same roof.

The 54-year-old former baker had demanded a bigger council house because he claimed he could not properly look after the two women and his 17 children in a three-bedroom, semi-detached home.

The identification made locally came as police revealed that a woman in her 20s has been arrested on suspicion of murder after five children died in a house fire.

The woman was arrested at a separate address after the blaze that broke out in the early hours of this morning while the children were asleep.

Fire crews were at the scene within three minutes of being called and managed to rescue all eight members of the family but the children died of smoke inhalation.

Police said they were keeping an open mind as to the cause of the incident but had made the arrest in order to secure evidence.

Temporary Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "This is a sad and tragic case. It would be wrong to speculate as to what is the cause. It is potentially a murder inquiry."

A sixth child aged 13 has been taken to hospital in Birmingham for specialist treatment.

Emergency services were called to the house on Victory Road in Allenton, Derby, just before 4am today.

Derbyshire Police said eight people, two adults and six children, were taken to the Royal Derby Hospital.
[...]

"The ages of the children who died range from five up to 10 years old. The investigation into the cause of the fire is at a very early stage and it would be wrong to speculate at this time.

"As the investigation continues further information will be released to the public. Anyone who can help the police inquiry into the incident should contact the police."

A joint investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out by the police and fire service.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18031768

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering five children who died in a fire at a house in Derby.

The children, aged between five and 10, were asleep upstairs when the fire began at 03:45 BST, police said.

Their father, who was downstairs in the house in Victory Road, Allenton, made "valiant attempts" to save them.
[...]

The arrested woman, aged in her late 20s, was taken into custody from elsewhere in the city.

Two adults also suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Royal Derby Hospital for treatment.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police, Steve Cotterill, said; "There appears to have been some valiant attempts by the father to resuscitate his children.

"The parents were asleep downstairs when the fire started," he added
[...]

"When we arrived, we had a rapidly developing fire on the ground floor of the property and the first floor was very heavily smoke-logged," he said.

"We believe it started on the ground floor but we haven't determined that at this moment in time
[...]

ACC Cotterill added: "This going to be a very lengthy and detailed investigation. We are keeping an open mind."

[Marv]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...father-17.html

A woman and a man were today arrested on suspicion of murder after five children aged between five and 10 perished in a house fire, despite the desperate efforts of their father to save them.

Jade Philpott, 10, her brothers John, nine, and Jack, seven, and sisters Jessie, six and Jaden, five, were killed in the fierce blaze in the early hours of the morning in the semi-detached property in Allenton, Derby.
[...]

Their 13-year-old brother, Duwayne, remains in a critical condition in hospital in Birmingham. His parents are by his bedside.

Tonight, police arrested a 38-year-old man, from Derby, on suspicion of murder. A woman in her 20s had also been held earlier today on suspicion of murder.
[...]

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill, from Derbyshire Police, said: 'There appears to have been valiant attempts by the father to rescue his children.'

He said two adults in the home, whom he did not name, escaped the fire without serious injury after being alerted by a smoke detector.

Mr Cotterill, who said police were keeping an open mind about the cause of the fire, added: 'It is a matter of a police inquiry, where we have had to act very quickly to preserve any evidence which may feature later in the inquiry.'

It was 'potentially' a murder inquiry, he added, and the woman being questioned by police was not arrested at the scene.

He said eight people were living in the house on a permanent basis, though there might be other people who stayed there on an ad hoc basis.
[...]

Mr Philpott has featured on the ITV programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture and also made an appearance on an episode of Jeremy Kyle (video below) billed 'Father to 15... Wife and girlfriend pregnant again!'.

In a heated exchange Mr Philpott told the host: 'When it comes to my family I'm very defensive.'

Kyle then accused the unemployed father of not making enough effort to find work and asked: 'What are you worth?'

Mr Philpott replied: 'I'm worth more than you.'

Eventually the debate become so heated that a security guard had to intervene.

Ms Widdecombe, who spent a week living with the then Mr Philpott for the programme, said following the tragedy: 'Nobody would ever call him a bad father. I'm so sorry to hear the news and my thoughts are with the family.'
[...]

The alarm was raised by neighbour Joe Peel, who was woken by his dog.

He looked out of his window and saw that the door was on fire, so he immediately called the fire brigade.

He said: 'I was woken by the dog barking. I ran out of the house and could hear screaming. There were other neighbours there. No one could could get near the house because of flames and smoke. Everyone was screaming.

'There was black smoke billowing from the property and flames shooting up the stairs. It was horrible.'

Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: 'It was terrible, just so bad. It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my life.

'I did what any parent would do and ran to the house, but there was nothing anybody could do.'
[...]

Post-mortem examinations will be carried out over the weekend and forensic specialists are examining the house.

[Bohring]

So many thoughts, none of them concise or coherent. How horrible for the children.

[Marv]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18049227

A 13-year-old boy has died in hospital days after five of his siblings were killed in a house fire in Derby.

Duwayne Philpott and his brothers and sisters were asleep upstairs in their Allenton home when the blaze began.
[...]

Police are treating the fire on Friday as suspicious. A man, 38, and woman, 28, were released without charge after being held on suspicion of murder.

Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and Jayden, five, all died when the fire started on Victory Road in the early hours.

Duwayne had received treatment at Birmingham Children's hospital, before his life support machine was switched off overnight.

Mr Philpott and Duwayne's mother Mairead were at his bedside.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "I am sad to confirm the news that Duwayne has died as a result of the injuries he suffered in the fire.
[...]

A spokesman from Birmingham Children's Hospital said: "Despite the intensive care team's greatest efforts, the injuries that Duwayne received in the fire were too great for him to survive.
[...]

Mr Cotterill said on Sunday that police had not had the opportunity to speak to Mr and Mrs Philpott because they had been caring for their son.
[...]

Mr Cotterill also asked people to let police know if they spotted anything on social media sites that might aid the investigation.

[VXIII]

DERBY, England -- A house fire that killed six siblings is believed to have been started deliberately, UK police said Monday.

Investigating officers found traces of an accelerant believed to have been poured through the letter box of the home in Derby, central England.

They also found fingerprints on a window, according to The Sun.

"After further forensic examination we believe the fire was not accidental, initial indications are that it was deliberately set and, as a result, six children have been unlawfully killed," Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said.

Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and five-year-old Jaydon Philpott were killed when the blaze ripped through their home early Friday morning.

The sixth sibling, 13-year-old Duwayne Philpott, died Monday in Birmingham Children's Hospital after his parents chose to turn off his life support machine.

A 38-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both from Derby, were arrested on suspicion of murder but released without charge Saturday.

The father of the children, 54-year-old Mick Philpott, is said to have made a "valiant attempt" to save the siblings as he returned from a night out to find the home on fire. His wife Mairead, 31, escaped unhurt.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/1841001...it-uk-cops-say

[Marv]

I hope it's not the parents.



http://www.itv.com/news/2012-05-29/t...in-derby-fire/

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the death of six children in a house fire in Derby, police said.
[...]

Derbyshire Police said a 55-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman from from Derby were arrested this morning. The pair were not named.

“I suspect there may still be people with crucial information who have not yet come forward to speak to us.

In view of the arrests, I would urge anyone who may have been holding back, not felt comfortable to voice their concerns or not had the confidence, to do so now. They have my personal reassurance that we will deal with their information sensitively.

We still need information to help us in this inquiry. The latest arrests are just one step further in the investigation. It is absolutely vital that if you know anything you think could help us, come forward now, do not wait any longer. It is important that we find justice for these six young children.

– Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill

The force said it was increasing its presence on Victory Road with a mobile police station returning to the area along with extra patrols. Forensic examinations are also continuing at the house.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ma...?newsfeed=true

Detectives investigating a fire in which six children died have arrested two people on suspicion of murder.

A 55-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, who are from Derby, were arrested this morning, Derbyshire police confirmed. They have not been identified by police.

They are in custody and will be questioned by officers in due course
[...]

Police believe the fire was started when petrol was posted through the letterbox.

A 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, both from Derby, thought to be Philpott's former girlfriend and her new partner, were arrested by officers investigating the deaths, but were later released without charge.

[Marv]

Well, according to the Daily Mail it IS the parents who have been arrested......



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ed-murder.html

The father and mother of six children killed in a house fire were this morning arrested on suspicion of their murder.

In a dramatic development, Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, are in custody being questioned by detectives about the horrific blaze.

Just two weeks ago the couple, both from Derby, wept uncontrollably at an emotional press conference as officers described how petrol had been poured through the family’s letterbox and set alight.

I haven't found any other source naming them.

[Marv]

The BBC have now stated it's the parents who were arrested too:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18250397

[LadyCygnet]

Why in the world would they kill their own children? And why those six?

[Marv]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-children.html

The parents of six children who died when their house was gutted by fire were last night charged with their murder.

Mick and Mairead Philpott were due to appear before magistrates this morning.

They face six counts of murder after prosecutors decided that pressing charges was ‘in the public interest’.
[...]

After two days of questioning by police, the 55-year-old father and his wife, 31, were charged. Officers had already established the blaze was deliberate, caused by petrol being ignited at the front of the family’s three-bedroom council house in Allenton, Derby.

The Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘The evidence was reviewed by a Crown Advocate from the CPS East Midlands Complex Casework Unit, who decided that there was sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest for a prosecution to take place.’
[...]

The parents were arrested together in Derby city centre at 10am on Tuesday. Yesterday, police were given an extra 12 hours to question them at separate stations.

Mr Cotterill had earlier urged members of the local community to put aside allegiances and come forward if they have any information about the fire.
[...]

Funerals for the children are being arranged, funded by more than £10,000 already raised by the local community.

[sgr1966]

Maybe they thought they would get lots of charity if they lost their home in a fire, and they thought they would be able to get the kids out but they perished in the fire.

[biteme]

Maybe they're just assholes, that hopped to profit by killing their children

[Marv]

http://www.people.co.uk/news/uk-worl...2039-23883813/

The parents accused of murdering their six kids in a house fire are begging to attend the funerals.

Mick and Mairead Philpott are remanded in custody but have applied to prison bosses for compassionate leave to be at the services, a pal said yesterday.

They would be handcuffed to guards – a standard practice – but there are fears for their safety and it could pose a huge security risk.

Governors at the two jails holding the couple are set to have crisis talks this week with police and local authorities.

Mick, 51, who has fathered 17 children with five women, and Mairead, 31, were planning the funerals before their dramatic arrests on Tuesday.

And Mick’s son Richard, 25, told a friend: “They want to be at the funerals and need to be able to say goodbye. Whatever has happened, they are innocent until proven guilty. The public should not judge them. Let a jury do that when they know all the facts. It is still too early.”
[...]

And a family source said of the possibility of them being at the funerals: “It would be bonkers because feelings are running very high.

“I don’t think they would be safe but it is not for us to judge.

“Everyone is feeling so much pain for those kids and a lot have taken it to heart but it is not for us to make the decision.”

Family, friends, neighbours, church workers and even complete strangers are pledging their support to give the children “the biggest and best send off” at the funerals expected later this month. And after the pair applied to be there, authorities are battling to do the right thing in “the interest of public safety”.

A Prison Service spokesman explained: “The strictest, full risk assessment will be undertaken with all the police involved and other agencies.

“Public protection is the key. If it is deemed too dangerous for this couple to attend the funerals of the children, we will try to facilitate a private memorial arrangement.

“It is a unique situation and we cannot think, right now, of any other defendants in the past who have been charged with murdering their children, then wanting to attend their funerals. That is why it poses such a huge risk.”

[LadyCygnet]

Mick and Mairead Philpott are remanded in custody but have applied to prison bosses for compassionate leave to be at the services, a pal said yesterday.

I think that they need to be shown the same level of compassion that they showed to their six dead children.

[sugarfree irony]

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/187817...-their-funeral

DERBY, England -- The parents charged with murdering their six children in a house fire will not attend the youngsters' funeral, the family's priest said Wednesday.

Father Alan Burbidge, who will be conducting the service, said it will take place next week.

"We have had confirmation this morning that the parents of the six children will not be attending the funeral, which will take place at St Mary's Catholic Church on 22 June," he said.

[Marv]

Detectives investigating the deaths of six siblings in a house fire have made a third arrest.

Derbyshire Police said a 45-year-old man was arrested in Derby in connection with the deaths of Jade Philpott and her brothers John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden, and Duwayne.

The children's parents, Mick and Mairead Philpott, have been charged with their murders.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said the 45-year-old is being held by officers for questioning.

The latest arrest comes just two days after Mick Philpott, 55, and his 31-year-old wife appeared in court where a date was set for them to stand trial for the murders of their children.
[...]

In Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, the judge, Mr Justice Colman Treacy, told the children's parents they would go on trial for murder on January 14 next year.

No applications for bail were made. The couple were remanded back into custody to next appear for a plea and case management hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on November 5.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/third-arres...ids=3201686347





The children's funeral service was held today:

They were told to wear bright colours in order to celebrate the lives of six innocent children killed after a house fire tore through their home.

But mourners could not contain their grief when six little white coffins containing the bodies of the Philpott children arrived on horse-drawn carriages at St Mary's Catholic Church in Derby town centre this morning.

The hearse carrying the body of Jade Philpott, 10, led the cortege with a horse sporting a pink plume of feathers. Five more hearses, each with blue feathers, followed, carrying the bodies of her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13.

Then the children's coffins were lifted gently out and up onto the shoulders of more than 20 pallbearers as they slowly made their way into the church.

Each coffin bore the child's name in blue for the boys and pink for Jade, who also had a pink princess printed on the front. The boys had emblems on their coffins too, each different, a fitting tribute to their personalities. John's featured a picture of toy soldiers, Duwayne's the Derby County emblem.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...e-funeral.html

[Marv]

The parents of six children who died when a fire ripped through their home mouthed 'I love you' to each other today when their murder charges were dropped.

Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, will now face a trial in February next year charged with six counts of manslaughter.
[...]

The down-grading of the charges means the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will not have to prove the pair intended to kill their children.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter is discretionary while a convicted murderer is automatically jailed for life.

The couple, from Derby, were charged with six separate counts of manslaughter during a 90 minute hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.

The pair, who appeared on separate video-links but could see each other, mouthed 'I love you' while covering their hearts with their hands as the new charges were read out.

Earlier, the pair were seen on the court's TV screen waving to each other before Mick mouthed 'You alright?' to his tearful wife.

Paul Mosley, 45, of Cecil Street, Derby, who appeared in person, was also charged with the manslaughter of the six children.

Father-of-17 Mr Philpott wept and held his head in his hands in the dock.

They spoke only to confirm their names, deny the allegations and to confirm they could hear proceedings.

The next hearing in the case will take place on January 16 next year.

A trial was fixed for February 11 and is expected to last five weeks.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...slaughter.html

[CbabyRKO]

At the end of the trial we get to roast these fuckers right?

[Marv]

I sincerely hope so, Cbaby.

[navsec]

have they come up with a motive yet?

[Abroad]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21387791

A couple started a house fire which killed their six children in "a plan that went horribly wrong", a court has been told.

Whether the motive makes sense is a different matter.......

Earlier, the jury was told about the family's unconventional lifestyle - Mr Philpott, 56, his 31-year-old wife and his mistress Lisa Willis, 28, all lived in the same house.

A total of 11 children also lived there - six were those of Mick and Mairead Philpott, while four were his children with Ms Willis. Another child was Ms Willis's with another man.

Ms Willis had been just 17 or 18 when she met Mr Philpott. The prosecution said from the outset he "sought to exert total control" over her, ensuring her wages from a cleaning job and her benefits were paid into his bank account.

The prosecution said Mr Philpott preferred his relationship with Ms Willis but she had become unhappy. On 11 February she moved out after telling Mr Philpott she was taking her children swimming.

She returned three days later to collect some clothes and was challenged by Mr Philpott, jurors heard.

Mr Latham said: "There was an incident on the doorstep, Philpott manifesting huge aggression and the police were called.

"What she had done challenged the very core of his attitude to his family and his women.

Two weeks before the fire, Mr Philpott told friends he had an idea for a way of getting Ms Willis and the children back, the jury heard.

Mr Latham said: "He told people he had a plan up his sleeve and that she wasn't going to get away with it - watch this space."

The court also heard that Mr Philpott received a call from his wife while taking friends to a darts game in his minibus.

Mr Philpott told his friends, "Sorry guys someone is threatening to torch the house with the kids in it", Mr Latham told the court.

The fire was started using petrol in the hallway of the house as the children slept, the court heard.

In a 999 call Mrs Philpott was heard saying: "My house is on fire and my kids are inside."

Mr Philpott later took the phone and, though difficult to understand through his sobs, said: "I can't get in."

[Abroad]

And the cunning plan involved a daring rescue:

Mr Mosley later suggested to a friend that the defendants had rehearsed a rescue plan six weeks before, jurors heard.

Mr Mosley said he was to kick the back door in while the Philpotts ran out of the front of the house, and he was then to go upstairs to save the children, Mr Latham told the court.

The Philpotts wanted a bigger house, Mr Mosley allegedly told his friend, and Mrs Philpott apparently wrote a suicide note in which she took the blame for the fire, saying she would take the children with her next time.

[Pete Bondurant]

So...she can have them killed when they're in her womb, but not when they are in her house?

[Abroad]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21535261

I do feel a little bit sorry for them, but for the love of God, how stupid can one be?

The fire had created such thick black smoke Mr Patterson [the firefighter] said he had to locate the children by touch.
Michael and Mairead Philpott in court Mr and Mrs Philpott screamed and cried as their children were brought out, the court heard

He said he carried three of the children out one at a time and laid them on the pavement.

In a statement read to the court, PC Nicola Ward said Mr Philpott was standing shirtless in the street when one of the children was carried out.

"Mick Philpott suddenly started screaming and ran towards the child shouting 'no'," she said.

"I had to restrain him and tell him to stand back."

Mr Philpott fell to the floor, the court heard, and was saying: "I've got to get to them, they are my babies."

PC Ward said she saw Mrs Philpott come out of a neighbouring house in her dressing gown and hug her husband.

"I saw the female look over the male's shoulder and look towards the child," she said.

"The female then began to scream, they both fell to the floor holding one another."

[LadyCygnet]

What a clusterfuck. Does Mrs. Philpott qualify for a Darwin Award?

[Abroad]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21843747

A mother accused of killing her six children in a house fire has said she "can't rule out" the possibility that her husband started the blaze.

Mairead Philpott told a jury her husband Mick could have got up at night and set the fire without her knowledge.

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, asked if she thought her husband could have set the fire and she replied: "I honestly don't know."

Looks to me like she is trying to throw her hubby under the bus without accusing him directly.......

[Marv]

Mick and Mairead Philpott were today found guilty of killing six of their children in a house fire as part of a botched attempt to frame his former lover.

The couple were convicted of the manslaughter of their ‘babies’ after a seven-week trial where Mick Philpott repeatedly sobbed in the dock, collapsing when the prosecution accused him of planning the fire that ended in tragedy.

But the jury refused to accept his excuse that someone had started the fire through his letter box, instead believing he was the mastermind of a plot that went 'horribly wrong'.

A third defendant, Philpott's friend Paul Mosley, was also found guilty of six counts of manslaughter.

As the jury delivered its verdicts in respect of Philpott, he stood in the dock staring straight ahead with his hands clasped in front of him.

As the court returned guilty verdicts on his wife, he shook his head and she looked down at the floor and fought back tears while clutching a tissue in both her hands.

Mosley showed no emotion as he heard the guilty verdicts.
[...]

The judge, Mrs Justice Kate Thirwall, told the court she will sentence all three defendants at 10.30am tomorrow.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-mistress.html

[Marv]

Mick Philpott's lawyer today painted the shameless killer as 'a very good father' as he attempted to secure the lowest possible prison term for the manslaughter of his six children.

In mitigation ahead of sentencing, Anthony Orchard QC also said Philpott's conviction for the attempted murder of a girlfriend in 1978 was a 'long time ago' and there was no evidence of anything like that being repeated.

But he was immediately cut off by the judge, Mrs Justice Thirlwall, who retorted: 'There's been violence in every single relationship, has there not?'
[...]

Mr Orchard said Philpott, 56, would have to live with the jury's verdicts, and the fact that they said he killed his children.

'He will have to live with the hatred and hostility of the press and the public for the rest of his life,' he added.

Shaun Smith QC, for Mairead Philpott, said the children led happy lives despite the unusual circumstances in which they were brought up, living for a time with their mother, father and their father's girlfriend.

Mr Smith said there was no evidence 'any of these children were in any sort of danger or peril prior to that night (of the fire) whatsoever.'

He said: 'They were well looked-after. They were well nourished. They were happy children.'
[...]

The drug-taking layabout, who embodies everything that is wrong with the welfare state, was still smiling even after being convicted of killing six of his children.
[...]

Yesterday Philpott, 56, shouted obscenities before saying ‘it’s not over yet’ moments after Mrs Justice Thirlwall asked for the verdicts to be received in silence ‘out of respect for the memories’ of the children he had killed.

But with typical arrogance, Philpott, who infamously appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show to demand a bigger council house, crossed himself, waved and smiled as he was led away.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...use-blaze.html

Of the six children pulled dead or dying from the Philpott family home in the early hours of the morning of May 11, 2012, only ten-year-old Jade was wearing pyjamas.

Jack and Jesse, eight and six, were in their underwear while Duwayne, 13, was in his jeans, as was John, nine.

As for the youngest, Jayden, just five, he was wearing his full school uniform.

It wasn’t that they got dressed when the fire broke out. None had time for that. It was just that their parents never could be bothered to get them changed when they put them to bed.
[...]

The children would be given a quarter of a bun each with a bit of hot dog or burger in it, served with chips,’ he said.

‘There never seemed to be enough food to go around. Little Jayden just lived on chips.’
[...]

Having encouraged the local community to start a collection to pay for the six funerals, he demanded that any money left over should be given to him in Argos vouchers.

As for the mountain of teddy-bears left by well-wishers outside the family’s charred house in Derby, he pushed for them to be auctioned off.
[...]

Afterwards, Philpott allowed the eldest child, Duwayne, 13, to have a sleepover at Bernadette’s house.

She said the little boy was in a terrible state. ‘Mick said he hadn’t eaten for a week and I took him and my little boy out for a pizza. I had never seen a child eat so fast in my life.’

Of course, it all rather contradicts Philpott’s great claim, wheeled out whenever he was criticised about his lifestyle, that he was a ‘great dad’.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...arely-fed.html


''WELL NOURISHED''???? I'd like to know why social services weren't involved with this family! I wonder if any of the relatives, visitors and neighbours bothered to report their concerns over how the kids were being raised? The lack of food, not bothering to bathe or change them before bed? Didn't anyobody say anything, ffs?!

[LadyCygnet]

Good God! None of the adults look as though they went without.

[Marv]

Jobless father-of-17 Mick Philpott was sentenced to life in prison today for starting the fire which killed six of his children in an appalling plot to frame his former lover.

His wife, Mairead, who conspired with him, was handed 17 years and told to serve at least half in jail.

The judge Mrs Justice Thirlwell told Philpott he had 'no moral compass' and was a 'disturbingly dangerous man' as she said he must serve a minimum of 15 years.
[...]

Family members in the public gallery applauded as the judge finished her sentencing. One shouted: 'Die, Mick, die.'


Another said: 'See you, Mairead. Hope you enjoy life on your own.'

'Your own babies,' another called out.

In response, Philpott smiled and made an obscene gesture as he was led from the dock.

Their accomplice Paul Mosley was also handed a 17-year jail term for his part in the fatal arson.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ouse-plot.html