Angela Sharkey left 'devastated' by family fire deaths
A woman has described the heartbreaking moment when she had to tell her sister that her husband and two children had been murdered in a fire.
Thomas Sharkey, 21, and Bridget, eight, died after the blaze at their first-floor flat in Helensburgh last month. Their father Thomas, 55, died six days later.
Margaret McKechnie said Angela Sharkey had been left "utterly devastated".
She was speaking as relatives made a fresh appeal for information.
The fire was started deliberately and police are treating the case as murder.
Mrs Sharkey, 46, escaped from the burning flat and remains in a critical, but stable, condition in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Speaking at a police press conference her sister, Ms McKechnie said: "I had to tell my sister Angela yesterday afternoon and she was totally and utterly devastated to hear from me that her two lovely young children had been taken from her.
"There was such sadness in her eyes and I can't begin to explain how shattered she is by this terrible, terrible news.
"Her family was her life and she has been robbed of any future with them. It is so, so sad that she will never see young Thomas and Bridget grow up."
Thomas Sharkey Snr's niece, Gemma McFadyen, spoke about the family's loss.
She said: "Three members of my family have been murdered as a result of this fire.
"Young Bridget and Tommy were two amazing, innocent kids with everything going for them.
"Thomas was well known in Helensburgh and was a brilliant dad to Tommy and Bridget."
Mr Sharkey's sister Val McFadyen urged anyone with information about the fire to come forward.
She added: "Someone knows who carried out this appalling act and we do not understand how anyone could protect this killer.
"We would urge people to please look at your conscience and make that vital call to police to help us."