This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/06/man-admits-killing-three-generations-of-family-in-northern-ireland-house-fire

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man admits killing three generations of family in Northern Ireland house fire Man gets life sentence after four killed in Northern Ireland house fire
(about 3 hours later)
Daniel Sebastian Allen pleads guilty to three murders and manslaughter ‘by reason of suicide pact’Daniel Sebastian Allen pleads guilty to three murders and manslaughter ‘by reason of suicide pact’
A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of three members of the same family in a house fire in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing four members of a family in a house fire in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.
Denise Gossett, 45, her son Roman, 16, her daughter Sabrina, 19, and Sabrina’s 15-month-old daughter Morgana were all killed in a fire on 27 February 2018, at their home in Derrylin. Daniel Sebastian Allen, 32, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to murder and manslaughter in relation to the blaze that engulfed the house in Derrylin, a rural area on the Irish border, on 27 February 2018.
Daniel Sebastian Allen, 32, of Doon Road, Derrylin, appeared in Craigavon crown court on Tuesday, when he pleaded guilty to the murder of Roman and Sabrina Gossett, as well as Morgana. Denise Gossett, 45, her son Roman, 16, her daughter Sabrina, 19, and Sabrina’s 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn died in the fire.
Allen also pleaded guilty to arson and, relating to the death of 45-year-old Denise Gossett, admitted manslaughter “by reason of suicide pact”. Allen admitted murdering the teenagers and infant but denied murdering Gossett and admitted manslaughter by reason of a suicide pact. He also admitted arson. Allen had been living with the family at the rented cottage.
Allen was sentenced to life imprisonment and will appear in court in mid-September for a tariff hearing to determine the minimum amount of time he will spend in prison before he can be considered for release. Allen had previously denied murder, prompting Mr Justice O’Hara to swear in a jury at Craigavon crown court on Monday to hear the case.
Appearing in the dock wearing a checked shirt, accompanied by officers, Allen read his pleas from a sheet of paper held by an official. On Tuesday, Allen changed his plea. Appearing in the dock wearing a checked shirt, he read his pleas from a sheet of paper held by an official. The defence barrister Frank O’Donoghue said his client understood the charges. The prosecution accepted the pleas.
He did not react when the judge, Mr Justice O’Hara, delivered a life sentence for the murder of three members of the Gossett family. “Since you have pleaded guilty to three counts of murder I now sentence you to life imprisonment,” said the judge. Allen showed no reaction.
The judge thanked the jury members, who had been sworn in on Monday, for their time, adding that he had wanted them to be there for Allen’s plea so they understood why the case would not be proceeding as planned. When the judge said he would serve life imprisonment for three murders Allen nodded before being led away in handcuffs. He has been in custody since 2018. At a 2022 court hearing Allen’s defence team said a mental-health assessment did not provide evidence of diminished responsibility.
The defence barrister, Frank O’Donoghue, said his client understood the charges against him, with the prosecution barrister, David McDowell, saying he was satisfied with the new arraignment conditions. Allen is to return to court on 15 September for a tariff hearing to determine the minimum amount of time he will spend in prison before being considered for release. His address was given as HMP Maghaberry.
Allen had previously been set to contest the charges of murder on the grounds he claimed he had been involved in a suicide pact with Denise and Sabrina Gossett, and had no part in the death of the younger two victims. The family, originally from Doncaster, England, had reportedly lived in Tralee, County Kerry, before moving to Fermanagh in 2016. Farm buildings and fields ringed their bungalow, the only dwelling on a rural lane in Derrlylin.
On these grounds, Allen previously pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, and not guilty to murder and not guilty to one count of arson with intent to endanger life. The judge told the jury on Monday that village residents called emergency services when they saw the fire. Emergency crews found Allen standing outside and four bodies inside. The roof collapsed.
Allen has been in custody since 2018. The owner of the house, Tommy Fee, later demolished the ruins, saying he wished to erase the horror of what happened. “We wanted to take it away because of the memories of that day and what happened to that family, the tragedy that unfolded there,” he told the Sunday World.
During a court session in early 2022 the defence team concluded that his mental health assessment did not provide evidence of diminished responsibility.
Allen will appear in court for a tariff hearing on Friday 15 September.
In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is at 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.orgIn the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is at 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is at 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.orgIn the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is at 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org