Derby House Fire: Community To Pay Funeral Costs For Five Child Victims

Community To Pay Funeral Costs For Victims Of Derby House Fire
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A community mourning the deaths of five children who died after a fire ripped through their home have set up a charity to help pay for their funerals.

The five youngsters perished at the house in Victory Road when a fire engulfed the property as they slept upstairs in their beds in the early hours of Friday.

Their 13-year-old brother Duwayne, who was also in the semi-detached house at the time of the blaze, remains in a critical condition in hospital in Birmingham.

Philpott, who was dubbed "Shameless Mick" in 2007 for his benefit claims and refusal to get a job, in a documentary by former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, made a "valiant" attempt to save them from the fire, police said.

As the reality of the tragedy began to sink in today, residents on the Allenton estate laid dozens of bouquets of flowers in tribute to the children and the family.

Bobby Sutherland, who has lived on the estate all his life, said he was inspired to set up an online charity called Catch Me When I Fall to help pay for the funerals and anything else the family might need.

Speaking close to the police cordon that remained around the smoke-blackened house, Mr Sutherland said: "I said to my missus they're going to have to pay about 10 grand when they get home, and I said that ain't right.

"So I said I want to set up a charity."

He went on: "The original statement was about the kids.

"Everybody's got kids, everybody wants kids or everybody's had kids, so it affects everybody."

Sutherland said many people had their own judgment about Philpott, who is said to be the father of 17 children, but he loved his children desperately.

Fighting back tears, he said: "Yeah they can slag him off, but he loved his kids."

"Who doesn't make a mistake?

"Yeah you make mistakes but you don't deserve that. Nobody deserves that. You know what I mean?"

A 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, both from Derby, were arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths and continue to be questioned today, Derbyshire Police said.

Philpott hit the headlines after demanding a larger house to share with his wife, Mairead, girlfriend, Lisa, and eight offspring.

Derbyshire Police said post-mortem exams will be carried out today to determine each of the children's cause of death.