Philpott parents to miss children’s funeral

A COUPLE charged with murdering their six children in a house fire will not be attending their funeral service, church officials have said.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham said the funeral of Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, 8, Jesse, 6, and Jayden, 5, would be held in Derby next week.

Mick Philpott, 55, and his 31-year-old wife Mairead have been remanded in custody charged with six counts of murder following the blaze in Derby.

Father Alan Burbidge, the family priest who will be conducting the service, said: “We have had confirmation that the parents of the six children will not be attending the funeral, which will take place at St Mary’s Catholic Church on June 22.

“The family have chosen that church as a venue because they are Catholic children and they wanted a full Requiem Mass in a Catholic church.”