THE mother of two children murdered in a deliberate house fire has now been told her husband and their son and daughter died in the blaze.

Angela Sharkey – who has been in hospital since the blaze on July 24 – was yesterday told her eight-year-old daughter Bridget and son Thomas, 21, had died in the fire.

The 46-year-old was also informed that her husband Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, had died in hospital days after the fire at their Helensburgh home.

Mrs Sharkey had been completely unaware of the deaths for 11 days after initially being placed in a drug-induced coma and then being treated for critical injuries.

She remains in Glasgow Royal Infirmary where her condition has been described as "critical but stable".

As the news was broken to the mother, a poignant photograph of her and her two children enjoying a family holiday was released by police investigating their deaths. The image shows the family at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World in Florida.

Detectives are now hoping the new image, plus another showing Mr Sharkey celebrating at a wedding, will encourage members of the community to come forward with information.

In an earlier appeal for information, the children's aunt, Valerie McFadyen, said a recent trip to the US allowed the family to spend some special time together.

She said: "The whole family had some precious moments together when they had a holiday in Florida recently.

"Thomas and Angela had never seen their wonderful children so happy as the day they both swam with dolphins. It is a memory we will keep in our hearts."

Despite extensive inquiries, widespread media coverage and the offer of a £10,000 reward, police have so far failed to trace who was responsible for the "horrific crime".

The images, released just a day after Strathclyde Police launched a fresh appeal for information, paint a picture of the Sharkeys' life together before the tragedy.

It is thought the family may have been targeted as part of a long-running feud. Mr Sharkey spent 18 months in jail during the mid-1990s for growing cannabis, but had not been in trouble since.

Detective Superintendent Peter McPike, who is leading the investigation, said: "The answer to this murder inquiry lies in the local community.

"We are aware of the speculation surrounding Thomas Sharkey Snr's alleged involvement in criminality and this may be one of the reasons why there is reluctance on the part of some people to speak to police.

"What I would also point out is that we are investigating the murders of an innocent eight-year-old child, Bridget, and her 21-year-old brother Thomas Jnr, who will not now realise his ambition to become a professional golfer.

"I am in absolutely no doubt that there are people out there with vital information on this investigation who have not yet come forward to police."

He added: "We are examining CCTV footage from the area around the scene and in Helensburgh town centre, and are working towards identifying people or vehicles seen in the area around the time in question.

"I am aware that there were a couple of parties taking place at houses or flats near to the scene and that people were coming and going from the parties well into the small hours of the morning. It is critical to the investigation that people who were at these parties come forward."