A JURY heard today that triple murder accused Scott Snowden was in Mexico when the fatal fire that killed three members of the Sharkey family took place.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Scott Snowden was on a two-week holiday with his wife Gillian when when Tommy Sharkey, his son Thomas Sharkey junior and daughter Bridget Sharkey were killed in the blaze.

The fire occurred at the Sharkey family home on Scott Court, Helensburgh, around 5pm on July 24, 2011.

Snowden and his wife returned to Glasgow Airport the following day at 6am.

The defence case for Snowden opened with a joint minute of agreed facts being read to the jury by junior Owen Mullan.

The jurors heard that Snowden was not in the Helensburgh area when four fires - including the fatal fire - took place and that he was at work miles away when a man was slashed.

When the Mariner's pub, which was owned by Tommy Sharkey senior, went on fire on April 19, 2010 Snowden was staying at the Airth Castle Hotel with his wife.

And he was staying at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, on June 19, 2009 when the Garth Inn in Helensburgh went on fire, and at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Liverpool on September 6, 2009, when a house in Rhu called the Steeple was set on fire.

The court heard that when 58-year-old Richard McKinney was slashed in the driveway of his home in Luss Road, Alexandria, on January 20, 2010, Snowden was working at Rhu Marina.

Witness David Prophet, 27, from Helensburgh, told Donald Findlay QC, defending Snowden, that Snowden, who is a friend of his, and Lee McCarthy were in his home just weeks after the fatal fire.

He was asked if Mr Hughes said anything and replied: "He said he had set a fire at a house in Rhu for Mr Snowden."

Mr Findlay asked: "What was Mr Snowden's reaction," and Mr Prophet replied: "Mr Snowden was pissed off."

The QC then asked Mr Prophet if Snowden had ever mentioned having a problem with Tommy Sharkey senior or holding a grudge against him and he said: "He never mentioned any problem with Tommy at all."

Mr Prophet was giving evidence at the trial of Scott Snowden, 37, and Robert Jennings, 50, who deny murdering Mr Sharkey, 55, his son 21-year-old Thomas junior and his eight year-old daughter Bridget at their home on Scott Court, Helensburgh, on July 24, 2011.

Snowden has an albi for the fatal fire and three other fires.

When the fire at the Mariners took place, Snowden and his wife were guests at the wedding of Graham Clark, 32, at Airth Castle.

The jury was shown an informal wedding photograph featuring the bride and groom and family and friends. Snowden was in the picture.

Mr Clark said that the wedding was on April 18, 2010 and added: "The party went on into the early hours of the morning."

The court heard evidence about Lee McCarthy and Mark Sharkey, who are both incriminated by the accused for the fatal fire.

Patricia Devine, who is the mother of a girlfriend of Mr McCarthy, told police in a statement that he threatened to blow up her home.

Ms Devine claimed that Mr McCarthy phoned her and threatened to put a grenade through her letterbox and blow up her home.

Ms Devine told Mr McCarthy: "Bring it on," and put the phone down on him.

The court heard this happened after Mr McCarthy had fallen out with Ms Devine's daughter.

Ms Devine could not be traced and the contents of her statement were confirmed by DC Moira Fyfe.

The police officer was asked by QC Donald Findlay, representing Snowden: "Were you aware Mr McCarthy was in the Army," and she replied: "Yes."

Mr Findlay then said: "Would you take what he said seriously," and DC Fyfe replied: "I think I would take it fairly seriously."

The court also heard a statement from George McDuff, 41, who claimed that Mr McCarthy had threatened to burn down his flat with him in it.

Annie Evans, 48, the aunt of Snowden's wife, told the court that while she was a partner in the Station Bar in Helensburgh, Mark Sharkey would frequently phone her and threaten to burn down her pub.

She added: "In the end I told him if you're going to do it do it I'm insured."

Mr Findlay asked her if there was a reason for the threats and she replied: "He was drunk."

The jury has already heard that Mark Sharkey stabbed Tommy Sharkey senior in the back in his home just months before the fatal fire.

The QC said: "Were you aware of Mark Sharkey stabbing Tommy Sharkey senior," and she said: "I think the whole town knew about it."

The jury also heard about a statement taken from Catherine Collins who alleged she was standing outside the Mariners after it was burned down talking to Mr McCarthy.

She claimed that he told her: "Well that's what you get when you bar me from a pub in Helensburgh."

Ms Collins told police she asked Mr McCarthy what he meant and he replied: "It was me and big Mark. Let that be a warning no one will bar me from a pub in Helensburgh."

Greyhound trainer Michael Sillars, 55, said he was a friend of Tommy Sharkey senior and had been with him when he received a phone call in which he said: "If you want to call me a grass come and see me."

Mr Sillars was asked who the person on the other end of the phone was and he replied: "Mark Sharkey."

Mr Findlay then said: "Do you remember telling the police that Mark Sharkey said he was going to let everyone know that Tommy was a grass," and he replied: "Yes."

The trial before Lord Matthews continues.