Funeral for massacre killer's twin

The funeral for David Bird, the twin brother and first victim of gunman Derrick Bird, will take place in Cumbria today.

Mr Bird, 52, is believed to have been shot dead in bed at his home, High Trees Farm in Lamplugh, in the early hours of Wednesday June 2.

Bird later shot dead the family solicitor Kevin Commons, 60, before embarking on a murderous journey through towns and villages in West Cumbria, killing 10 more random victims before turning the gun on himself as police closed in.

The brothers’ frail mother, Mary, 90, is not expected to attend the service at St Michael’s Church, Lamplugh, due to her failing health.

While the family has denied reports of a feud between the two, one relative has said unlike many twins they were not particularly close and their elderly mother appeared to be one of the few points of contact between them.

David, who ran his own garage business, owned a substantial farmhouse in Lamplugh and had sold part of his land for a development of four detached homes.

Derrick drove taxis and lived alone in a small two-up, two-down pebble-dashed terrace a few miles away in Rowrah.

Their father Joe left £25,000 (€30,000) in his will to David but not to Derrick or their older brother.

In a statement issued after his murder Mr Bird’s daughters described him as a “loving husband and doting dad and grandad.”

They denied suggestions of a family feud, adding: “Our dad’s only downfall was to try and help his brother.”

There will also be a second funeral later in the day for Mike Pike, 64, another of Bird’s victims.