Funeral for tragic children who died in blaze
The funeral of three children who died in a Paisley house fire will take place next week.
Fiona, Alexander James and Philip Gibson died after a blaze ripped through their Renfrew Road home on June 26.
The youngsters, who were 12, eight and five, were pulled from the fire alongside their mother but died soon after arriving at hospital.
Their mum, Julie Daley, who had been in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, has been discharged.
The 39 year old is now making funeral arrangements for the children with their father Alex Gibson.
A friend of the family, who has raised more than £28,000 in an online fundraiser for the pair, said they are incredibly grateful for people’s kind messages of support and their generosity.
The mother of the three children who died in a tragic Paisley house fire has left hospital and is preparing their funeral.
Julie Daley was pulled from the Renfrew Road blaze along with her children Fiona, Alexander James and Philip on June 26.
The 39-year-old, who had been in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, was discharged a few days ago.
A family friend of Julie and the children’s father Alex Gibson said the pair were grateful for people’s kind words over the past two weeks.
Esther Chalk, who set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for the pair who lost everything in the fire, said: “Julie is now out of hospital and has started the very heartbreaking process to bury her three babies.
“Please keep both Alex and Julie in your thoughts and prayers.
“They want every single person to know how grateful they are for everything and every donation received.”
Esther updated people on Julie’s condition in a message on the fundraising page which has seen donations topple £28,000.
People from across Renfrewshire and beyond have donated money, clothing and other household essentials to ensure the couple do not have to worry about the practical elements of daily life in the weeks ahead.
The parents are, the Express understands, preparing for a funeral for Fiona, 12, Alexander James, eight and five-year-old Philip next week.
Julie and Alex, who went to the local garage and returned to find the flat being ravaged by flames, are being supported by extended family and the wider Gallowhill community, which is collectively mourning the loss of three young lives.
Fiona, a pupil at Mary Russell School, has been described as a “shining light” by staff at the school, while her brothers, who attended St Catherine’s Primary, never ceased to make people smile.
The youngsters will forever be remembered by their school communities, teachers have said.
Alex himself left three of the children’s cuddly toys at the steps of the home where they had shared so many memories when he returned to the property on Father’s Day.
He had earlier expressed his grief on social media, when he said: “How I miss them already. Now I know what it feels like when your world comes crashing down.”
It followed an earlier message from the distraught dad, which read: “Rest in peace u little angels.”
The three children were rescued from the fire which broke out at around 9pm on the Friday evening by firefighters who, upon arriving within minutes, found a well-developed fire within the first-floor cottage flat.
The siblings were taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but died a short time later.
Police confirmed last week there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.