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Tributes have been paid to two “fine young people who had everything to live for” who died in a fire at their home.
Police believe eight-year-old Bridget Sharkey and her brother Thomas, 21, were killed in a blaze which was started on purpose at their home in Scott Court, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.
Parents Angela, 46, and Tommy, 55, are being treated in hospital for serious burns and smoke inhalation. They are sedated and have yet to learn of their children’s deaths.
Strathclyde Police are treating the siblings’ deaths as murder. Chief Inspector Fergus Byrne said: “They will have to wake up and learn this dreadful news. My thoughts are very much with the family at this very difficult time.
“It’s an absolutely dreadful and tragic event. Right now there is no clear motivation. We are looking at all aspects of the background of the people concerned to see if there is a motive there that perhaps could shed some light and point us to the people responsible.”
Thomas Sharkey was “hard-working and conscientious” while his sister was “beautiful, talented and enthusiastic”, their headteacher said.
Ann Chalmers, headteacher at St Joseph’s Primary School in Helensburgh, where both siblings were pupils, said: “We are absolutely devastated and saddened to hear Bridget and Thomas have died. Bridget was ready to start primary five in August. Bridget was a beautiful child, very talented, an excellent all-rounder and enthusiastic pupil who was a lovely singer, dancer and artist.
“Bridget was a very happy and popular girl. She will be sorely missed by all at St Joseph’s primary. Thomas also attended St Joseph’s for primary schooling. He was a great pupil, was very hard-working and conscientious.
“It is so tragic to lose two fine young people who had everything to live for. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with them and their families and friends.”
Thomas Sharkey won a golf scholarship to Georgia Southern University in the US after leaving Our Lady and St Patrick’s High in Dumbarton in 2008. In his biography on the website Georgia Southern Eagles, the university’s athletics group, he described himself as “ambitious and competitive”, adding that his grandfather and father were the biggest influence on his athletics career for teaching him golf.
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