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Gassed father's 'split with wife' | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A man who is thought to have gassed himself and two of his children on Father's Day was going through a break-up with his wife, it has emerged. | |
Brian Philcox's body was found in a Land Rover in the Conwy Valley with his daughter Amy, aged seven, and three-year-old son Owen. | |
Police said all three, from Runcorn in Cheshire, had died from poisoning due to inhaling car exhaust fumes. | Police said all three, from Runcorn in Cheshire, had died from poisoning due to inhaling car exhaust fumes. |
Mr Philcox, 52, had been in touch with protest group Fathers 4 Justice. | |
Police said a pipe had been placed from the exhaust of the Land Rover in through the back window. | |
Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said there were no other injuries on the children. | Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said there were no other injuries on the children. |
Remote, quiet spot hit by tragedyTributes to children found dead | Remote, quiet spot hit by tragedyTributes to children found dead |
"It is a difficult case for all involved," he said, adding that the mother of the children, Evelyn - known locally as Lyn - was being looked after by family liaison officers. | |
"She is devastated, she has suffered this double loss. | |
"She is being looked after by family liaison officers who are giving her comfort and support at this time, and she does have a good network of family and friends around her but obviously this is a tragic loss that she's suffered." | "She is being looked after by family liaison officers who are giving her comfort and support at this time, and she does have a good network of family and friends around her but obviously this is a tragic loss that she's suffered." |
Army bomb squad experts had also been called to the family home in the Windmill Hill area, after the discovery of a suspect device. | |
Residents were evacuated on Saturday night but the device was later found to be a hoax. | Residents were evacuated on Saturday night but the device was later found to be a hoax. |
A second suspect package was sent to a "family member", police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts. | A second suspect package was sent to a "family member", police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts. |
A friend of Mr Philcox, Paul Clifton, said he had been very upset by the turmoil of divorce. | A friend of Mr Philcox, Paul Clifton, said he had been very upset by the turmoil of divorce. |
"He was very, very upset by the situation to do with the courts and the access to the children, because he's going through a lot of turmoil with the divorce," he said. | "He was very, very upset by the situation to do with the courts and the access to the children, because he's going through a lot of turmoil with the divorce," he said. |
"But he loved his children. It's very hard to believe he's done this." | "But he loved his children. It's very hard to believe he's done this." |
Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence. | Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence. |
Brian Philcox was a karate expert | |
"Last week he was actually bragging, when I walked past, he was actually saying, 'I'll burn the house before I give it... up or the kids to her'," one neighbour said. | "Last week he was actually bragging, when I walked past, he was actually saying, 'I'll burn the house before I give it... up or the kids to her'," one neighbour said. |
Det Ch Insp Jones added the police were still keen to hear from anyone who might have seen the three between Friday night and Sunday afternoon in order to establish a timeline of events in north Wales and Cheshire. | Det Ch Insp Jones added the police were still keen to hear from anyone who might have seen the three between Friday night and Sunday afternoon in order to establish a timeline of events in north Wales and Cheshire. |
He said Mr Philcox had picked up Amy and Owen from an arranged access visit on Friday, and there was a sighting of the three at Llangollen on Saturday. | |
Mr Philcox had told friends he planned the visit because the children were interested in trains. | |
Officers were alerted at about 1500 BST on Sunday by a passer-by, who found the car off a hillside road near Llanrwst, parked on a road leading from the A470 between Tal-y-cafn and Maenan. | |
Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, winning many competitions. | Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, winning many competitions. |
He also held various senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK, and was named "Man of the Year" in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn. | |
This was understood to be in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan. Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners. | |