Children’s hearts broken by murders of ‘kindest’ parents

Michelle Kirwan, 39, wept inconsolably as she and brother Avtar Kolar, 32, described the heartbreak caused by the death of their parents.

Avtar Kolar, 62, and his wife Carole, 58, were found dead on Wednesday morning at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.

The couple were found at the semi-detached property on Friary Road by their son, a serving police officer, shortly after 8am.

At a press conference yesterday, Mrs Kirwan said: “Yesterday the light was switched out in our lives and our hearts have been broken forever. My mum and dad were the sweetest, kindest people that I have ever met and would do anything for anyone.

“They were the beautiful parents of myself, Jason, Taz and Marie, and the precious nanna and granddad of eight grandchildren, who adored them with all their hearts.”

The couple, who had been married for 40 years, had four children and eight grandchildren.

Mrs Kirwan struggled to speak as she described how the family would meet at “Nanny’s” every Friday night, where her mother played bingo and card games with the children.

“It was noisy and chaotic but we would never miss a week,” she said.

She said her mother worked at her grandchildren’s school at a before- and after-school club where she was known as “Nanny Cal”.

“She was like the Pied Piper with the children and they adored her”

Breaking down, she said: “As a family we could not have been closer.

“We did everything together – holidays, Christmas, birthdays and weddings. We adored each other and loved each other so much.

“Whoever has done this has not taken just two lives, but a further 16. Our hearts are broken forever and our lives will never be the same.”

Holding his sister’s hand, Avtar Kolar – whose own son was born just a week ago – said the whole family was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.