PARENTS PAY TRIBUTE

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 16th Apr 2002.

THE GRIEVING parents of these tragic children have paid tribute to their "three little angels" who died after a house fire and given thanks for the one who survived.

Tracy Lane and Philip Gallagher now have only Adam, aged three, to cherish after seven-year-old Amanda, brother Ashley, six, and 22-month-old Alesha, were trapped in the eldest girl's bedroom by smoke and flames.

Police said yesterday that the children, pupils of Townsend County Primary and Kings Park Junior schools, were alone in the Stone Gardens, Townsend house when Saturday morning's fire took hold.

Tracy, 25, said: "I'm still in shock. I want my children back but I know that's not going to happen. I've got to live with this for the rest of my life."

Forensic examinations have shown that the fire began in the home's middle bedroom and police say that Tracy was "in the vicinity" nearby when the fire struck.

Neighbour, Roger Smithers, dialled 999 when he heard smoke alarms and with another neighbour, Paul Tarrant, and the children's uncle Darren Lane, tried in vain to reach the youngsters.

Adam was pulled out of another bedroom by fire-fighters who were called just after 9am on Saturday morning.

Tracy continued: "They were such wonderful children. They were very loved and very happy.

"They had so much going for them. I loved my children and I would have given them the last twenty pence piece in my pocket.

"No-one can give me what I really want and that is my children back - my children playing in the bath, my children playing in the garden and kissing my children good night.

"Nothing can bring them back now - they are gone."

"Ashley really stood out - he always stood out in a crowd because of his lovely beaming smile," said Phillip, 44.

He added that Adam is now running around "like a sunbeam - playing and talking" and Phillip says his Christian faith has been a great help in coming to terms with the tragedy.

As the community of Bournemouth's Townsend estate grieved yesterday, police investigations ruled out arson or an electrical fault as causes of the fire.

Post-mortem reports concluded that smoke inhalation caused the children to die.

Temporary head of Bournemouth CID, Geoff Watts, said: "That the fire may have been caused by one of the young children is a line of inquiry we are following.

"The cause of this fire may be something of which we are never 100 per cent sure.

"It could be a criminal offence to leave children of that age alone.

"Appropriate consideration will be given by all of the relevant authorities, that will include the social services and Crown Prosecution Service."

The Townsend community has set up a book of condolence.

Resident, Emilia Seviour, 30, said: "My little one is too young to understand but everyone at the school is talking about it. Her [Amanda's] friends are very upset."

Lavina Murphy, 32, said: "Amanda's mum was a good mum, I would rather lose my own life than lose my children."

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