Funeral of Brian Philcox, father who gassed his children

Jun 26 2008

Scores of family and friends today attended the funeral of a man who killed his two children on Father’s Day.

The body of Brian Philcox, 52, was taken into St Edward’s RC Church in Runcorn in a simple oak coffin - surrounded in the hearse by four floral tributes, one reading: “Words cannot express what is felt in my heart.

“Till we meet again, bro,” from Steve and Jackie.

Karate expert Mr Philcox was discovered in his Land Rover Freelander on June 15.

Next to him were the bodies of his children Amy, seven, and Owen, three.

He had gassed them with a hose from his exhaust pipe in a remote beauty spot in Snowdon, North Wales, after a bitter split with their mother Evelyn Philcox, 37.

Today, as torrential rain poured down on the modern red brick church, hymns could be heard by the assembled press.

The celebration of Mr Philcox’s life began at 10.15am with the church doors closed to anyone but invited mourners.

Two men, dressed in black, stood guard outside the main doors.

How Great Thou Art greeted the coffin’s arrival in the church.

A handful of police in high-visibility jackets and an officer from Halton Borough Council remained outside the church while the service proceeded.

After initial prayers the congregation sang The Lord Is My Shepherd.

The funerals of little Amy and Owen will be held this afternoon just six miles away.

Mr Philcox, had been in contact with Fathers 4 Justice in the week before he killed himself and his children.

Friends said he was distraught about the lack of access he had to them.

He phoned his estranged wife telling her he would “make the papers” in the hours before the killings.