Headteachers pay tribute to three siblings who died after house fire in Renfrewshire

"Words cannot express the sadness we are feeling"
Imogen Braddick22 June 2020
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The headteachers of three siblings who died after a fire at their house in Renfrewshire have paid tribute to the children.

Fiona Gibson, 12, and brothers Alexander, eight, and Philip, five, were taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after the blaze in Renfrew Road, Paisley on Friday night.

They died a short time later. A 39-year-old woman was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley after the fire, which emergency services responded to at about 9pm.

Fiona was a pupil at Mary Russell School in Paisley, where headteacher Julie McCallum, said the school community is "deeply saddened by the tragic news".

In a statement shared on Twitter, she said: “Words cannot express the sadness we are feeling.

Fiona Gibson (12), Alexander James Gibson (8) and Philip Gibson (5) died in the fire
Police Scotland

“Fiona was a wee shining light in our Mary Russell family and to lose three young lives in this way is devastating for everyone.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all affected by this tragedy at this very sad time.”

The boys were pupils at St Catherine’s Primary School in the town.

Headteacher Emma Henry said: “We are truly saddened by the loss of Alexander and Philip. They were both full of energy and such an important part of our school.

“Both boys loved the outdoors and frequently talked about their regular visits to the park.

“They never ceased to make us smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.”

Alex Gibson, the children’s father, wrote on Facebook at the weekend: “May u rest in peace little angels”.

Floral tributes have been left outside the house where the three children died
Getty Images

He later added: “How I miss them already, now I know what it feels like when ur world comes crashing down”.

A JustGiving page was also posted on his Facebook page, set up by a family friend, which states the children’s mother “is in icu in a critical condition”.

It had raised more than £18,000 by Monday morning, well beyond its £10,000 target.

The smell of smoke still surrounded the scene at the Gallohill housing estate on Saturday as people left tributes by the police cordon.

The Scottish Ambulance Service left a tribute to the siblings
Getty Images

One woman said local people were left “shocked” by what happened and simply added: “God bless those weans.”

Among the flowers left at the scene were some from Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, who wrote on a card: “We are all so sorry for your heartbreaking loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”

Police said an investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.

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