Man, 33, who killed his partner and three children including a 15-month-old baby in 'suicide pact' house fire is jailed for 29 years

A man who admitted killing his partner and three children, including a 15-month-old baby, in a house fire as part of a 'suicide pact' has been sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Daniel Sebastian Allen, 33, previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his partner Denise Gossett, 45, by reason of suicide pact between the pair.

He also admitted the murder of her daughter Sabrina, 19, son Roman, 16, and Sabrina's 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn in the deliberate fire at a house in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, on February 27, 2018. The family had moved from Doncaster 18 months previously.

Allen, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, also admitted arson with intent to endanger life.

He was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday morning.

Delivering sentence, Mr Justice O'Hara said Allen will serve 29 years in prison before he can be considered for release.

He told the court Allen came from an 'unstable, unhappy background', and 'lived most of his life online' and 'in a fantasy world' because of isolation from others.

But the judge said the killings required planning, and could not be explained by a 'sudden detachment from reality or loss of control'.

'There is a very dangerous and disturbing part of his make-up that led to these murders,' he added.

The fire completely gutted the house that the family had been renting for more than a year. The owner, who was among several neighbours who attempted to save the family from the flames, has since knocked the property down.

In a statement, Denise Gossett's surviving daughter Samantha said her life will never be the same again.

In a statement from Samantha, read outside Belfast Crown Court by Detective Inspector Hazel Miller following the sentencing, she said: 'My beautiful mother was taken from me. My younger brother and sister, Roman and Sabrina, along with Sabrina's wee baby Morgana are all gone too.

'Their four lives were taken in a fire started deliberately. And it breaks my heart to think on what happened; to think on how they died.

'I miss them so much. And, to be honest, it's very difficult to convey such a loss in words. My remaining family and I are incredibly thankful for everything the police, and those who helped bring this to court, have done.

'It is hard to move on with our lives, and my life will never be the same again. But the support of everyone, especially my partner and friends, has truly meant such a lot.'

Detective Inspector Miller said Allen has been held accountable for his actions and that it was a 'horrific and cruel act'.

'Three generations - a mother, her two children and her granddaughter - perished in a fire deliberately started by Daniel Allen in their home in Derrylin,' she said. 

'The four whose lives were lost were Denise Gosset, aged 45, her 16-year old son Roman, her 19-year-old daughter Sabrina, and Sabrina's baby daughter Morgana. Morgana was just 15 months old.

'Allen pleaded guilty to the murder of Sabrina, Roman and Morgana. He denied the murder of Denise but confessed to her manslaughter, and also admitted to arson with intent to endanger life.

'This was a horrific and cruel act. It's hard to even begin to imagine the panic, fear and sheer suffering. With the use of forensic evidence, and working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service, Daniel Allen has today been held accountable for his actions.

'I'm deeply mindful, however, that this is an event that will never be forgotten. We've seen destruction and a loss beyond words. My thoughts are with the remaining family members, whose lives won't ever be the same.'