Gassed in car, little Amy and Owen

A MOTHER whose two young children were murdered on Father’s Day by her ex-

husband said today her? beautiful little angels? will always be in her heart.

Lynn Philcox said her whole family were ?absolutely devastated? after Owen, three, and seven-year-old Amy, were found dead on Sunday afternoon.

They had been driven by their?jealous and obsessed? father Bryan Philcox to a remote beauty spot near Llanrwst, North Wales.

All three were killed by exhaust fumes from his Land Rover Freelander pumped into the car.

Philcox sent a last chilling message to his estranged wife before the tragedy, saying: "I’ve left you a present’

The black belt karate fanatic flipped as a bitter custody and property battle with his estranged wife Lyn approached its climax.

After giving children Amy, seven, and three-year-old Owen their railway treat, he drove them to a remote beauty spot in Snowdonia.

He ran a hosepipe from the exhaust of his Land Rover Freelander, started the engine, then climbed into the back seat with the kids as poisonous fumes engulfed them.

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A passer-by found their bodies on a road between Maenan and Tal-y-Cafn on Father’s Day.

Last night it emerged Philcox phoned Lyn, who had filed for divorce, before the outrage.

He hinted he had rigged up a BOMB at the home they once shared.

And he told her: “I’ve left you a present. I’ll make the paper – just you watch.”

Police said Lyn was "devastated" and being comforted by family and friends.

Philcox also called controversial dads’ rights group Fathers 4 Justice to ask for advice.

They said Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this.

A spokesman said it was also possible that he may have tried calling in the run-up to Father’s Day but that the group’s office had been swamped with over 1,000 enquiries in the last week alone.

Matt O’Connor, from Fathers 4 Justice, said: "This is yet another tragic case that demonstrates how family breakdown is an unfolding national tragedy for families and children."

Balding Philcox and Lyn split up 18 months ago.

But he refused to leave their four-bed home in Runcorn, Cheshire – forcing the wife to move into her mum’s with Amy, Owen and her 18-year-old son from a previous relationship, Ryan.

The warring couple were due at a family court yesterday. Judges were expected to boot Philcox out so Lyn could move back in.

But the husband told a horrified neighbour: “I’d rather burn it down than let that bitch have it.”

Philcox, a karate instructor involved with several martial arts organisations, picked up Amy and Owen on Friday night for the pre-arranged trip to the steam railway.

Lyn reported the kids missing 24 hours later when Philcox failed to return them.

She also told police about her husband’s bomb threat – and cops threw a 200m cordon around the disputed property.

Bomb disposal experts moved in and found a crude hoax device.

Philcox sent a similar contraption to Ryan, who he often battered when they lived together.

It was found yesterday and detonated in a field as a precaution.

Det Chief Insp Wayne Jones of North Wales Police said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children.

Inquests into the three deaths were opened and adjourned during a brief hearing yesterday afternoon.

Central North Wales coroner John Hughes said the hearing, which was attended by just him and his officer, was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

Teddies and flowers were pinned outside the family home last night.

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Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house.

One card tied to the railings had a child’s drawing, of Lynn, Amy and Owen.

Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels."

Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels.

"Their little smiles will shine forever."

One tearful neighbour claimed Lyn had told cops Philcox was violent and would harm their kids.

But police insisted they had received no reports.

Another neighbour, Tommy Tieray, 44, said: “What kind of man would do this just to spite his wife?”

Philcox wed Lyn in 2000 after his first wife Janet died of cancer.

He was subsequently named Man of the Year locally over his fund-raising for cancer victims.

Philcox also had other children with other partners.

Courtesy The Sun

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