Private funeral plans for blaze death children over attack risk

Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead Philpott, 31, are accused of murdering their six children in the blaze in Victory Road, Allenton, on Friday, May 11.

As the married couple appeared in court last week to face the charges relating to the deaths of 10-year-old Jade Philpott and her brothers, Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, there were angry outbursts both inside and outside the courtroom.

In the days after the fire the community in Allenton publicly lent its support to the husband and wife.

Local people on the estate where they live said that they had set up an online charity to help the family with the funeral costs, and a number of special church services were held for the children at St George’s Roman Catholic Church.

However, it seems opinion has changed since police charged the couple with the killings of their children.

During the couple’s first appearance at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, a man and woman were removed from the courtroom after shouting out “scum” and obscenities at the pair.

At Nottingham Crown Court the following day, a crowd of around a dozen people shouted insults at the security vans carrying the Philpotts as they made their way to and from court.

Philpott, who is said to have fathered 17 children, and his wife are both in custody and are thought to have applied to authorities for compassionate leave to attend the children’s funerals.

Jade, John, Jack, Jessie and Jayden all died in the fire last month.

Duwayne then died of his injuries in Birmingham Children’s Hospital two days later.

The Philpotts are believed to have been arranging for the funerals to take place at Derby Cathedral before their arrests.

But it has emerged that it may not be possible to hold a public service for fear of more outbursts from incensed locals and a private memorial may now take place instead.

The Prison Service has not confirmed if the couple have applied for leave, but said a risk assessment would be carried out as is standard practice if an application were made.

A spokesman said yesterday: “We do not comment on the movements of individual prisoners.

“Prisoners can apply for escorted visits to attend the funeral of a close relative, but it will always be subject to a strict risk assessment where public protection is key.”

The Philpotts were charged with murder on Wednesday, May 30, more than two weeks after the blaze in which six of their children died.

Following the murder charges, a Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “The evidence was reviewed by a Crown Advocate from the CPS East Midlands Complex Casework Unit, who decided that there was sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest for a prosecution to take place.

“It is important to note that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and nothing should be said or reported that would prejudice that right.”

Mr Philpott, who raises his family on benefits, was branded a scrounger after claiming Britain had “gone down the pan” because Derby Council would not give him a bigger council house.

He appeared on the Jeremy Kyle television talk show and was dubbed “Shameless Mick” in a TV documentary by the former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe in 2007 for both his benefit claims and his refusal to get a job.

Following last month’s fatal blaze, Ms Widdecombe, who spent a week living with the then 57-year-old Philpott for the programme, Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture, said: “Nobody would ever call him a bad father.

“I’m so sorry to hear the news and my thoughts are with the family.”

The Philpotts will next appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, June 18, for a preliminary hearing.