OFFENDER DANIEL ALLEN SENTENCED FOR HOUSE FIRE MURDER IN DERRYLIN
A man who admitted killing four members of the same family in a house fire has been sentenced to 29 years in prison.Daniel Sebastian Allen, 33, previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his partner Denise Gossett and the murder of her daughter Sabrina Gossett, 19, son Roman Gossett, 16, and Sabrina Gossett’s 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn in the deliberate fire at a house in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, on February 27, 2018.
He was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday morning.
On the death of 45-year-old Denise Gossett, Allen previously admitted manslaughter by reason of suicide pact.
The court heard he had a suicide pact with 45-year-old Ms Gossett.
Denise Gossett was still alive when the fire started and died from smoke inhalation.
Her body was found handcuffed to a bed.
Allen, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, and was said to originally from the Midlands in England, also admitted arson with intent to endanger life.
Delivering sentence, Mr Justice O’Hara said Allen will serve 29 years in prison before he can be considered for release, which, taking into account time already served, will be in 2047.
A man who killed four members of the same family in a house fire in Co Fermanagh was described as having a “dangerous and disturbing part of his make-up” as he was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Mr Justice O’Hara said Allen came from an “unstable, unhappy background”, and “lived most of his life online … 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.
Mr Justice O’Hara said Allen would serve 29 years in prison before he could be considered for release.
Taking into account time already served, the judge said Allen would not be eligible for parole until 2047.
Denise Gossett’s surviving daughter Samantha said her life would never be the same again.
A statement from Ms Gossett was read outside court by Detective Inspector Hazel Miller.
“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,” she said.
“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.
“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 again.”
