Father kills his 'perfect' family

A DOTING father murdered his wife and teenage daughter yesterday before driving away to commit suicide.

 Hugh McFall who is believed to have murdered his wife Susan and daughter Francesca Hugh McFall, who is believed to have murdered his wife Susan and daughter Francesca

The tragic deaths of what was described as a “perfect family” stunned the close-knit community where florist Hugh McFall, 48, lived with his wife Susan, 55, and their ­student daughter Francesca, 18.

Former head girl Francesca had been due to attend a school Valentines Ball last night, which was cancelled as a mark of respect.

Her date Max Payne, 17, said: “Frankie was a bright and beautiful girl who was always full of fun. I am lost for words at the moment. We were supposed to be going to the ball tonight.

"Frankie never said anything to indicate she had anything other than a great relationship with her mother and father. We were great friends and I will miss her so much.”

Francesca and her mother were found at 5am at the family’s smart detached home in Oswestry, Shropshire, near the Welsh border.

Police had just launched a murder inquiry when they discovered the body of Mr McFall at a business unit three miles away.

It is not yet clear how Mr McFall killed his family but he is understood to have later hanged himself. Mystery surrounded the motive for the murders. Last night, as West Mercia Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, friends paid tribute to the “really normal” and “perfect” family.

Francesca was studying for A-levels in chemistry and biology at Oswestry School. She had been head girl at nearby Marches School and Technology College and was looking forward to a gap year doing voluntary work in hospitals in Nepal.

On her last Facebook page entry, on Thursday night, she wrote: “Buzzing for the V’ball with my date Max.”

A friend of the couple said Mr McFall was a wholesale florist and his wife a former part-time bank cashier with HSBC. “Hugh used to do the flowers and Sue used to do all the admin work for him,” the friend said.

“They were such a devoted couple and were quite romantic. They seemed so happy together.

“Hugh seemed every bit your ideal family man. He was small-built, was always polite to customers and was always a smiley face, as was Sue.

“He just seemed like a typical family man. It’s bizarre to hear what is supposed to have happened after knowing him for so long. I saw Sue in town on Monday and she seemed so happy.”

Next-door neighbour James Bond said he had been good friends with Mr McFall and believed something must have happened to make him “flip”. Mr Bond, 51, said: “He was a lovely, mild-mannered man. He was friendly and rational and would help out at a moment’s notice. This is so out of character. He has acted like he was out of his mind.”

Mr Bond said the family had recently enjoyed a trip to New York and excitedly shared their holiday photos with him when they returned.

“They had a fantastic time, they were just full of it. They are a particularly close family. I honestly can’t think of a family less likely than them for this to happen to,” he said.

Mr Bond said police knocked on his door early yesterday and broke the news that Mrs McFall and her daughter had been killed, telling him they were “desperate to find the husband”. He added: “We told them he had a lock-up in St Martins, which is where they found him.”

Craig Jones, a mechanic who works in the unit next door, said Mr McFall used the address as a base for his business, selling flowers to local supermarkets.

He said police kicked down the door to the property, which Mr McFall had been renting for a month, shortly before 9am.

Police said the cause of death for all three would be ascertained by a pathologist “over the next few days”. Forensic and uniformed officers remained at the family home and the industrial unit all day.

Mrs McFall had another daughter, Nicola, and a son from a previous marriage. A spokesman for HSBC said: “Susan was an extremely popular member of staff at our Llanrhaeadr branch. Her friends and colleagues are devastated by this tragic news.”

Neighbours said the family were often seen out walking together.

One said: “They were always jetting off on holiday or taking walks out together. They were just a normal family.” Another added: “They were the perfect family.”

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