AN Irish couple who denied starting a fire at their home in Leeds which killed their toddler son changed their pleas to guilty yesterday on the fourth day of their trial.
Amanda McKenna (21), and Michael Cunningham (27), admitted the manslaughter of their 21 month old son, Jim, and causing grievous bodily harm to their other son Billy, aged six months.
The change of plea came after a day of legal argument at Leeds Crown Court. Four charges of arson against the couple were dismissed.
The court had heard they set their council house in South Parkway, Leeds, on fire four times to get cash to fund their gambling.
But the fourth fire, on October 2nd, 1994, got out of hand and Jim suffered 60 per cent burns. He died in hospital 10 days later. Billy also suffered terrible burns but survived, although he could be brain damaged.
After the first fire in February 1994, the couple were rehoused and given £1,000 plus a, £350 loan by the Department of Social Security.
It was this cash, said Mr Paul Worsley QC, prosecuting, that gave them the motive to start other fires to pay for £150 they spent every fortnight on slot machines.
The couple claimed the fires were started by neighbours as part of a vendetta against them because they were Irish.
Judge Ian Kennedy directed the jury to find the couple guilty on the two main charges. They will be sentenced today.