Sheffield murder accused also held for driving car into students

The bodies of Tracy Donnelly, 42, and her 23-year-old pregnant daughter Louise Donnelly were found at a house in Ironside Road, Hemsworth, Sheffield, at about 7.40am on Tuesday.

Neighbours say they fear four-year-old Daniel Donnelly, who was seen wandering outside his house that morning crying, may have witnessed the murder of his mother and older sister.

A few hours earlier, a man was seen by neighbours running barefoot from the house.

Less than an hour after that, police swooped on a BMW X5 after it careered into a group of students on Fornham Street, Sheffield.

Officers chased the car through the city centre and eventually arrested the 25-year-old driver on suspicion of motoring offences when he crashed into a fence.

The man was re-arrested on suspicion of murder a few hours later, following the discovery of the two bodies.

The suspect being quizzed over the deaths was still in custody last night, after police chiefs were granted an extension to the amount of time they can hold him for before charging, bailing or releasing him.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Detectives are investigating a collision between a car and three pedestrians as part of their ongoing inquiry into the deaths of two women at an address on Ironside Road.

“The collision is believed to have taken place on Fornham Street in Sheffield city centre around 2.50am on Tuesday.

“A black BMW X5 is said to have struck three pedestrians and left the scene.

“A 20-year-old man sustained a broken arm as a result of the collision. Another 20-year-old man received a graze to a leg and a 19-year-old man sustained bruising to an arm.

“The BMW X5 was sighted a short time later by police, leading to a short pursuit which ended when the car collided with a fence at the junction between Edmund Road and St Mary’s Road.

“The driver of the X5 – a 25-year-old man from the Sheffield area – was arrested on suspicion of motoring offences and detained in custody.

“He was later re-arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the discovery of two bodies on Ironside Road.”

It is thought that Tracy Donnelly moved with Daniel to Ironside Road around a year ago, after splitting from Daniel’s father.

Her daughter, who lived with her boyfriend Ricky Williams in nearby Gleadless, had been staying at the house in Ironside Road for about a week.

Louise Donnelly, a barmaid and waitress, had told colleagues at the New Inn pub that she was expecting her first child and had already bought things for the baby.

Landlady Jacqueline Woonton said: “She found out she was pregnant in January and was coming up for her first scan.

“She was wonderful with children and would have made a fantastic mum. I feel heartbroken, she was a lovely person.”

In a tribute to his girlfriend, Mr Williams wrote on his Facebook page: “Goodnight babe, love you always. You will always be in my heart. Save me a place up there, I know we will be together again one day.”