School service for car murder boy

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A memorial service is to be held at the primary school of a six-year-old boy found murdered in a car near Lennoxtown alongside his younger brother.

Police investigating the murder of Paul Ross and his brother Jay, two, are waiting to interview their father, who is in a critical condition in hospital.

Royston Primary head teacher Liz Davidson described Paul as a "particularly sweet and gentle boy".

She said the special service would be held on Thursday.

The bodies of Paul and Jay were found in a car in the Campsie hills, north of Glasgow, on Saturday afternoon.

BBC Scotland understands they had both been stabbed. A man believed to be the children's father, Ashok Kalyanjee, is under police guard in hospital.

Police have still to confirm how the children, who lived in Royston, died or whether the injured man is related to them.

Paul was a lovely little boy, a particularly sweet and gentle boy who was doing really, really well in school Liz DavidsonRoyston Primary head

Mrs Davidson said the school, which was closed on Tuesday for an in-service staff training day, was struggling to come to terms with the boys' deaths.

She said: "It is very difficult to believe what has actually happened. It is something that is going to take a lot of time to sink in for everybody.

"Paul was a lovely little boy, a particularly sweet and gentle boy who was doing really, really well in school.

"He was very popular and well-liked by everybody in the school and was a happy little boy in school."

Mrs Davidson said former school chaplain Russell McLarty would be conducting the service on Thursday.

"He is well-known to the school and has seen us through previous difficult times," she added.

"Because it is such a family-centred school with everybody caring for everybody else I am quite sure we will cope with it.

"I have got very good, experienced staff and I know that we will do everything to make sure that the children are supported and feel secure, as they always do."

'Very good relationship'

Mrs Davidson said she believed school staff were best placed to deal with counselling children, but outside help could be brought in if it was thought necessary.

She added that Paul's teacher, Paul Flannigan, who is in his mid-20s, was in his first teaching job and would find the news "harrowing".

"He is a very good teacher and had a very good relationship with all the children in that class. I know he will find this very harrowing," Mrs Davidson said.

Letters will be sent out to parents when pupils return to class on Wednesday informing them about the service and inviting them to attend.

The mother of Paul and Jay, Giselle Ross, issued a statement about her sons through Strathclyde Police on Monday afternoon.

Mrs Ross is understood to be separated from the boys' father.

Officers have said that they are following a "positive" line of inquiry and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.