Daniel Allen Receives 29-Year Sentence For Derrylin Fire

Content warning: This article contains details of violent crime, suicide and mental health issues.

Khushboo Malhotra

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Following a trial at Belfast Crown Court, Daniel Sebastian Allen, 33, has been handed a minimum 29-year sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in a fire in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

The verdict brings closure to a harrowing chapter that has gripped the community of Derrylin since 2018.

DERRYLIN FIRE TRAGEDY

In a quiet corner of Derrylin, County Fermanagh, a devastating fire tore through a secluded bungalow on Doon Road on 27th February 2018. The blaze claimed the lives of three generations of the same family, sending shockwaves through the community.

Daniel Allen (alias Samuel Quinn) and his family lived a reclusive lifestyle, rarely venturing outside. They claimed to be evading his partner Denise Gossett’s ex-husband and kept their children away from school or college. No outsiders were allowed entry, raising suspicion among neighbours who noted Allen’s “total control over the family.”

A 27-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by police in Northern Ireland after house fire in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, in which three people diedhttps://t.co/cNKfQgjUeJ

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 27, 2018

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as smoke billowed from the home. The intensity of the fire challenged firefighters attempting entry into the burning home, delaying confirmation of the number of occupants.

Inside the house, the bodies of Denise Gossett, 45, her son Roman, 16, daughter Sabrina, 19, and Sabrina’s 15-month-old daughter, Morgana Quinn were discovered. Investigations revealed that the fire was deliberately set using fabric soaked in heating oil.

Allen’s behaviour during the fire, refusing to move and telling neighbours “Don’t go in. They’re all gone,” fuelled suspicions.

Forensic examinations uncovered that Roman and Morgana had died from GHB poisoning and Denise died from smoke inhalation while handcuffed to a bed. Sabrina’s cause of death remains unknown.

VERDICT AND SENTENCING OF DANIEL ALLEN

At Belfast Crown Court, Allen stood accused of three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter.

Allen claimed that Sabrina had killed her own brother and daughter, and that he had strangled Sabrina.

Allen denied murdering Denise, claiming a suicide pact with her. The prosecution described his version of events as “false” and “implausible.”

Proceedings scrutinised Allen’s troubled background, marked by instability and isolation. Despite his assertions of mental instability, evidence pointed towards a premeditated plan rather than a sudden loss of control.

In delivering the sentence, Justice O’Hara’s words echoed the sentiments of a grieving community, as he denounced Allen’s actions as exceptionally dangerous and emphasised the vulnerability of the victims.

“This fire was the culmination of a quite deliberate act which had been planned for some time.”

Justice O’Hara sentenced Allen to 29 years due to the severity of the crime. He said that, in this case, “we have three planned murders, of three generations of one family, with two of the dead being children,” before taking into account the manslaughter and arson pleas.

He went on to explain that “identifying the bodies was difficult” because of the extremity of the fire. He concluded that “the defendant’s role in these three murders must bring with it an assessment that his culpability for what happened is exceptionally high.”

The judge stated: “There is a very dangerous and disturbing part of his make-up that led to the murders.

“[The victims] could hardly have been more vulnerable yet the defendant murdered them.”

The judge added that “like the prosecution, I have my doubts about this suicide pact.” He delivered a stern message to Allen, imposing a minimum sentence of 29 years before parole consideration in 2047.

This punishment, one of Northern Ireland’s longest, underscored the severity of Allen’s crimes and offered a measure of justice to the grieving community.

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT

“…my life will never be the same again.”

Samantha Gossett, the surviving daughter of Denise Gossett, delivered a moving statement, which was read outside the court by Detective Inspector Hazel Miller following the sentencing of Daniel Allen.

“My beautiful mother was taken from me. My younger brother and sister, Roman and Sabrina, along with Sabrina’s wee baby Morgan are all gone too,” she recounted.

“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.”

Struggling to articulate the magnitude of her grief, Samantha expressed gratitude towards the authorities and those involved in the legal proceedings. “My remaining family and I are incredibly thankful for everything the police, and those who helped bring this to court, have done,” she said.

“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 Hazel Miller, who led the investigation, condemned the Derrylin fire as a “horrific and cruel act.” She praised the efforts of emergency responders and the local community, acknowledging their tireless dedication in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

“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,” she said.

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