A COUSIN denied knowing about the house fire in which Thomas Sharkey and his two children died before it happened.

Michael Sharkey, 27, from Helensburgh, was accused by defence QC Donald Findlay of saying to people hours before the blaze that he had a secret and they would find out the next day.

Mr Sharkey, a cousin of Thomas Sharkey senior, denied having anything to do with the fatal fire when he gave evidence at the High Court in Glasgow.

Scott Snowden, 37, and Robert Jennings, 50, deny murdering Mr Sharkey, 55, his son 21-year-old Thomas junior and his eight year-old daughter Bridget at their home at 2 Scott Court, Helensburgh, Argyll, in July 24, 2011.

Mr Sharkey told advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, that at the time he and Thomas Sharkey were not speaking.

He told the jury they had a heated argument in the Ashton Bar in Helensburgh in January or February 2011 after Mr Sharkey said he would not attend Michael Sharkey's sister's wedding.

The court heard that on the night of July 23, 2011, Michael Sharkey drank at least 14 pints and consumed cocaine.

During the evening and night he visited a number of people in the Kirkmichael area of Helensburgh.

He said the first time he knew anything about the fire was about 9am on July 24, 2011, when he and other relatives began receiving phone calls about the tragedy.

Mr Sharkey denied suggestions from Mr Findlay, representing Snowden, that he had turned up at George Murray's house the night before the fire, agitated, saying he had something to tell him, and he would "find out tomorrow".

Mr Sharkey denied he knew something "very, very bad was going to happen".

In response to questioning from Mr Prentice if he had known about the fire, Mr Sharkey said: "I would have gone straight to the police and told Thomas himself, but I had no knowledge."

The jury also heard of a police statement given by Ian Kyle, a friend of Snowden, who has since died. In this, Mr Kyle said he was asked by Snowden to buy petrol.

Mr Kyle said he bought £3 worth of petrol and was told to leave it outside his flat in East Clyde Street.

Under-cross examination by Mr Findlay, Sgt Laura Carnochan agreed there was no independent evidence to back up what Mr Kyle said.

Snowden and Jennings denied setting fire to the Mariners pub in West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, on April 19, 2010. The trial before Lord Matthews continues.