Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Couple and daughter die in fire horror
Court hears claim as accused, 29, granted bail
A COUPLE and their youngest daughter were killed by a blaze which ripped through their home early on Sunday morning.
Daniel Rudge, 29, his wife Kaylie, 28, and Lilly, four, could not be saved by emergency services.
Two boys, aged four and nine, and a seven-year-old girl are said to be in a stable condition in hospital. Daniel’s sister Mandy
Rudge, 31, said: “Words cannot describe how we feel. I’ve lost a brother, sister and niece.
“Kaylie was the most beautiful person in the world and Daniel has the biggest heart in the world. They would do anything for anyone.”
Firefighters and police rushed to the Rudges’ home after receiving 999 calls at 5.30am.
The three surviving children were rescued from the end-of-terrace property in Exeter, Devon.
Police have ruled out any thirdparty involvement as a probe into the cause of the blaze continues.
Mandy said: “We have no idea how it started.”
Dan was a member of the Demons motor bike club and fellow member Natalie Anderson has set up a fundraising page for the family. She wrote: “This will help cover costs for funerals, travel, child care and for the other children in the present and future.”
Friend Lauren England added: ”RIP Dan, Kay and Lilly you were amazing friends, husbands, wives, parents and children. May your souls be at peace.
“We will look after your family as much as we can.”
MESSAGES sent between a murder victim and his married lover were deleted from her phone after he had been lured to his death, it was claimed in the High Court yesterday.
Prosecutors alleged the sister of two men accused of taking part in the fatal attack on Steven Peck in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, took the woman’s mobile to wipe evidence of contact.
Details emerged as 29-year-old Lisa Gemmell, of Union Street in the town, was granted bail by Mr Justice Humphreys on a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Mr Peck, 33, was discovered with a serious head injury near the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on January 3 this year.
Three men – David Austin, 54, of Cherry Gardens in Ballymoney, and brothers Stephen Mccook, 28, and 24-year-old Brian Mccook, both from Urbal Road in Dervock, were arrested and charged with his attempted murder.
Detectives launched a murder inquiry after Mr Peck died in hospital a week later.
Police believe Mr Peck had been in a relationship with Austin’s wife and was attacked after attending what he thought was a meeting with her.
Gemmell’s mother Easther Mccook, also of Urbal Road, faces a charge of assisting offenders by providing a false alibi and interfering with witnesses.
She allegedly stopped any attempt to warn the victim by remaining with the woman he had been seeing, a previous court heard. With Easther Mccook released from custody last week, Gemmell mounted a bid to join her on bail.
Crown lawyer Iryna Kennedy told the court Mr Peck was allegedly “lured” to the leisure centre.
It was claimed that while the attack was being carried out Easther Mccook remained with the woman he had been seeing “to keep an eye on her”.
Gemmell arrived and became involved at a later point, according to the prosecution. Counsel claimed: “She came to the home, took the mobile phone off Mrs Austin and deleted messages sent between her and the deceased.”
She took phone off Mrs Austin & deleted messages IRYNA KENNEDY HIGH COURT YESTERDAY