A PRIEST who counselled police in the wake of the house fire in
Derby that killed six children said this week that the experience
had been "tragic, traumatic, and life-changing" for everyone
involved.
An assistant curate at St Mary the Virgin, Boulton, Derby, the
Revd Joanne Whitehead, has been a member of the National
Association of Chaplains for the Police for three years. She found
herself at the front line last year, supporting police officers who
tried to save the children who died in the fire started by their
parents, Mick and Mairead Philpott, and their friend Paul
Mosley.
"It's been very challenging," Mrs Whitehead said. "Everybody
involved has been trying to make sense of it all, and coming to
terms with their limitations.
"A lot of people think that the police and fire services are
somehow superhuman. But the reality is that in many ways they are
just like you and me, and many of them were profoundly affected by
this case.
"I visited court four times to try to support the officers
giving evidence, because it had been such an intense experience for
them. One policeman who tried CPR unsuccessfully on one of the
children was devastated. Two more officers have started going to
church."
Mrs Whitehead revealed that she had gone to the site of the fire
in Victory Road, after the Philpotts had been found guilty, to
support the police officers on duty and to talk with some of the
neighbours.
"One lady asked me directly where the children are now, and I
told her that I believe they are safe in the arms of their heavenly
Father. There were three children listening to our conversation,
and a little girl said: 'See, I told you so.'
"At another house, one of the Philpotts' neighbours shouted:
'Where were you when this happened? Where was God when those dead
children were brought out?' We have had to talk about how God isn't
an all-controlling puppeteer. He has given us the gift of free will
so we can choose our own way and walk the paths we want to. The
fire was started by adults who made a choice to do that."
