Father of murdered family had huge debts

Flower salesman Hugh McFall, 48, was found hanged in his industrial lock-up on February 5, four hours after the bodies of his wife and daughter were discovered at the family home in Oswestry, Shropshire.

Susan, 56, and Francesca, 18, died of head injuries, an inquest into the three deaths at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court was told yesterday.

Home Office pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar told the court the women were found lying side by side on a bed in the master bedroom of the Hampton Road bungalow covered in a "considerable amount of blood".

Both women had injuries consistent with having been struck by a rubber mallet recovered from the scene.

Business associates told coroner for mid and north Shropshire John Ellery that they had called a meeting with Mr McFall the day before his death to confront him over suspected discrepancies in his invoices to them.

Mr McFall's contract to supply flowers to Stan's Superstore in Oswestry amounted to up to 95 per cent of his income but was suspended when he could not explain to company partners why they were making a loss in their flower and plants department.

Justin Smart, general manager of the store, told the inquest he believed the company had overpaid Mr McFall "well over 500,000 over seven years".

The court heard that a note was found next to Francesca's body which read: "I love you more than anything I have ever loved, I couldn't let you suffer, Daddy."

The inquests, at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court, were expected to last two days.