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| Daniel Allen pleads guilty to killing Gossett family in house fire | Daniel Allen pleads guilty to killing Gossett family in house fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Denise Gossett, her son Roman, her daughter Sabrina and Sabrina's daughter Morgana were all killed in the fire | Denise Gossett, her son Roman, her daughter Sabrina and Sabrina's daughter Morgana were all killed in the fire |
| A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing four members of the same family in County Fermanagh. | A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing four members of the same family in County Fermanagh. |
| Daniel Sebastian Allen, 32, from Doon Road near Derrylin, changed his plea as his trial was about to start. | |
| He admitted the murders of Roman Gossett, 16, his sister Sabrina, 19, and Sabrina's 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn. | He admitted the murders of Roman Gossett, 16, his sister Sabrina, 19, and Sabrina's 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn. |
| But he denied murdering Denise Gossett, 45, and instead admitted manslaughter by reason of a suicide pact. | |
| Craigavon Crown Court was told that plea was acceptable to the prosecution. | |
| Daniel Allen, pictured at a previous court appearance, was at the scene of the fire when the emergency services arrived | |
| Allen's voice broke as he pleaded guilty to a fifth charge of arson with intent to endanger life. | Allen's voice broke as he pleaded guilty to a fifth charge of arson with intent to endanger life. |
| The fire happened at a cottage the family were renting just outside Derrylin on 27 February 2018. | |
| Allen had been living with the family at the time. | |
| When the emergency services arrived he was standing outside and four bodies were discovered inside. | |
| Allen had previously denied murder and claimed he did not play any part in the deaths of Roman and Morgana. | Allen had previously denied murder and claimed he did not play any part in the deaths of Roman and Morgana. |
| The rural bungalow house was gutted by the blaze in February 2018 | |
| The judge said: "Since you have pleaded guilty to three counts of murder I now sentence you to life imprisonment." | |
| A defence barrister said: "Obviously these are serious matters and reports will be required." | A defence barrister said: "Obviously these are serious matters and reports will be required." |
| In addition to a pre-sentence report, he said time would be required for a number of other professional reports. | In addition to a pre-sentence report, he said time would be required for a number of other professional reports. |
| A sentencing hearing was set for 15 September when the judge will set the minimum number of years before Allen can be considered for release. | A sentencing hearing was set for 15 September when the judge will set the minimum number of years before Allen can be considered for release. |
| He will also be given prison sentences for manslaughter and arson. | He will also be given prison sentences for manslaughter and arson. |
| Allen nodded as the judge told him he would serve life imprisonment for three murders before he was led from the dock in handcuffs. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Derrylin | Derrylin |