The family of a Fife mother murdered by her ex-partner while their two young children slept nearby have been “touched” by the support from locals who are rallying to raise funds to help the young orphans.
Jennifer Rennie (26) was murdered at her home in Findlay Street, Rosyth, on March 11 by Scott Simpson, who she left two weeks before.
Simpson, 41, then left Violet, five, and one-year-old Logan in bed and drove back to the former family home in Dalgety Bay, where he committed suicide.
Jennifer left behind her children, who are being cared for by their grandparents Jennifer’s father Norman Rennie and his partner Mary.
Because the former family homes were off limits as a crime scene until Tuesday, Mr Rennie had been unable to access anything, including the youngsters’ clothes, bedding or everyday items and toys.
However, while some community members had already offered to do fundraising, the Dunfermline branch of hardware store Homebase approached the family with an offer to provide the children with a complete range of bedroom furniture and accessories to make the move to their grandparents’ two-bedroom home as comfortable as possible.
Argos in Dunfermline have also helped.
Mr Rennie said: “We’ve been absolutely amazed with the generosity of Homebase and Argos, from directors to the store staff in Dunfermline, some of the young lads even offered to decorate the kids’ new bedroom for us knowing I just can’t deal with that kind of thing right now.
“Homebase and Argos have basically got us to a point where the kids have some comfort and distraction from all the distress. I couldn’t have got to this point in this timeframe with all that we’re dealing with right now they’ve just been incredible.
“I just didn’t know where to start. One moment I’m told my daughter’s gone, the next social services hand my grandson to me at the front door and drive away no question of do I have a cot? Do I have clothes? Do I have bedding, even food?”
A Homebase source said: “As a parent your heart goes out to Mr Rennie, the little ones and the family, but as a parent you also know the financial challenges of a young family these days and that’s tough enough when you’ve planned for it.
“Imagine the challenge when overnight at 53 you effectively become parents of a toddler and baby and you have nothing.”
Some residents have suggested a fundraising campaign should be put in place to secure the children’s future, perhaps by way of a trust fund a gesture which has also touched the family.
Meanwhile, a funeral service for Jennifer will be held at the Glen Pavilion, Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline, at 10.30am on Monday then later at Hillend Cemetery at 11.30am.