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Gassed father planted hoax bomb Mother's 'little angels' tribute
(about 6 hours later)
A man who gassed himself and his two children planted a hoax bomb at the family home and reportedly told his wife: "I've left you a present." The mother of two children gassed to death by their father says they were "beautiful little angels" and "a reason for living".
Brian Philcox, 52, was going through a break-up with his wife when he drove to the Conwy valley to kill himself, seven-year-old Amy and Owen, three. Brian Philcox 52, was found dead in his Land Rover with Amy, seven, and Owen, three, in the Conwy valley on Sunday.
Lyn Philcox, who was separated from her husband, said: "We cannot believe... how they have been so unfairly and tragically been taken away from us."
Mr Philcox also planted a hoax bomb at his wife's home in Runcorn, Cheshire.
He reportedly told his wife: "I've left you a present."
After picking up the children, there were reports that he told his wife: "I'll make the papers, just you watch."After picking up the children, there were reports that he told his wife: "I'll make the papers, just you watch."
A hoax bomb was later found at the family home in Runcorn, Cheshire. Mrs Philcox said in a tribute to her children: ""My family and I are absolutely devastated about the loss of Amy and Owen. They were more than everything to us - they were our world and a reason for living.
Residents were evacuated on Saturday night and an army bomb squad called in. "Amy was a very artistic child and was labelled by her teachers at Windmill Hill Primary School as exceptional.
Supt Jed Manley, of Cheshire Police, said: "It [the hoax bomb] was made to give the appearance of being an explosive device. It has wires. It had other issues that the officer believed, quite rightly, that caution was needed and it looked like an improvised explosive device."
A second suspect package was sent to a "family member" police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts.
Remote, quiet spot hit by tragedyTributes to children found deadRemote, quiet spot hit by tragedyTributes to children found dead
It also emerged that karate expert Mr Philcox had been in contact with Fathers 4 Justice and may have tried calling them in the days running up to the tragedy. "She was a strong-willed little girl and loved to be in the middle of whatever was going on.
"Owen was a very loving little boy and very affectionate. He would always play with my hair which he found comforting. Owen loved playing with his Thomas the Tank engine and Lazytown toys.
"Every night they would both get into bed with me and we would read books and sing together. The children loved story time in bed with me at night.
"We cannot believe what has happened and how they have so unfairly and tragically been taken away from us.
"They are our beautiful little angels and will be greatly missed and they will always be in our hearts."
Residents living near Mrs Philcox's home were evacuated on Saturday night and an army bomb squad called in after the hoax device was found.
A second suspect package was sent to a "family member" police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts.
It also emerged that karate expert Mr Philcox had been in contact with protest group Fathers 4 Justice and may have tried calling them in the days running up to the tragedy.
The bodies of Brian Philcox and his children Amy and Owen were found in a Land Rover
Mr Philcox and his children were found in his Land Rover Freelander near Llanrwst on Sunday - Father's Day.Mr Philcox and his children were found in his Land Rover Freelander near Llanrwst on Sunday - Father's Day.
They died from carbon monoxide poisoning through inhaling exhaust fumes.They died from carbon monoxide poisoning through inhaling exhaust fumes.
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.
Police described the children's mother Evelyn - known locally as Lyn - as "devastated". She was being comforted by family and friends.
Outside the family home, a single-storey, bungalow-type terrace on the Windmill Hill estate, teddy bears and flowers were tied to railings.Outside the family home, a single-storey, bungalow-type terrace on the Windmill Hill estate, teddy bears and flowers were tied to railings.
Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house.Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house.
One card tied to the railings had a child's drawing, of Lyn, Amy and Owen.One card tied to the railings had a child's drawing, of Lyn, Amy and Owen.
Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels."Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels."
The bodies of Brian Philcox and his children Amy and Owen were found in a Land Rover 'Shine forever'
Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels.Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels.
"Their little smiles will shine forever.""Their little smiles will shine forever."
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.
"But he loved his children. It's very hard to believe he's done this."
One of Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence.One of Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence.
He loved his children... it's very hard to believe he's done this Paul Clifton, friend
"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'," the 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'," the neighbour said.
Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, reaching sixth dan black belt and winning many competitions. Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, and had held senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK.
He also held various senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK.
He was named Man of the Year in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan.He was named Man of the Year in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan.
Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners.Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners.
Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this.Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this.
A spokesman said it was also possible that he may have tried calling in the run-up to Father's Day but that the group's office had been swamped with over 1,000 enquiries in the last week alone.
Det Chief Insp Jones said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children.Det Chief Insp Jones said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children.
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.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.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.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.