Aboubacarr Drammeh can now sleep knowing no other family will have to go through what his has endured after the man who murdered his wife and children was convicted. Mild-mannered Mr Drammeh, who maintained his dignity throughout Jamie Barrow's trial, spoke after Barrow was unanimously found guilty of three murders and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Firestarter Barrow showed no emotion as he was convicted on Tuesday (July 4) at the end of a short trial where a jury heard of his drinking, mental health problems, self-harm, and of a childhood in care and how it was starting bonfires which soothed him.
Mr Drammeh, who still lives and works in Minnesota in the United States, has fond memories of Clifton where he would visit his wife, Fatoumatta Hydara, and his bubbly girls, three-year-old Fatimah Drammeh and one-year-old Naeemah Drammeh. His family died from smoke inhalation after Barrow poured motorbike fuel through the family's front door last November.
Read more: Husband and father of Nottingham flat fire victims describes heartbreaking last call with is wife
After Barrow, 31, of Fairisle Close, Clifton, was convicted of their murders, Mr Drammeh told Nottinghamshire Live he was not shocked but said "it's emotional" on hearing the verdicts. Speaking quietly and calmly, he said this could have happened to another family - and the only way to ensure this doesn't happen is that this man is behind bars.
"And I can sleep that no other family will have to go through this incident from him at all". He says the jury "did the right thing" - and the most important thing is for people to be protected from Barrow in the future.
His wife barely knew Barrow, who the jury heard had rightly or wrongly believed she was leaving rubbish in an alleyway by their small flats. Barrow, who wanted to move flats, had said he was annoyed rubbish was being left, but Mrs Hydara did not annoy him.
Barrow had a motorbike in an outhouse in 2018 - and said he was finishing off a motorcycle maintainance course Level 1 - a course which would have provided training in health and safety, fires, which fire extinguishers to use, the danger of fire and the danger of fire spreading, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
But it was after a period where Barrow had been "wallowing in self-pity" and was reclusive that something snapped. He drank heavily and set fire to petrol he poured through the family's letter box with a tissue, and walked away from Fairisle Close, Clifton, leaving Mrs Hydara and her children trapped inside.
The simple presence of a pushchair, which was too heavy for Mrs Hydara to carry up her stairs, or the fact her light might have been on, were both clear indicators to Barrow that the family may have been at home when he started the fire - but he claimed he believed no one was in.
Calls from her husband and mother had come in to Mrs Hydara that night and the children were arguing over a new toy - chatter that could be heard by Mrs Hydara's mother earlier on November 19. Even one neighbour desbribed walking by the flat and hearing one of the children crying on a previous occasion - an example of how noise carried easily from the tiny flats.
Statement after the verdicts
Following the verdicts, the family of Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah said in a joint statement: “Words cannot quantify how much our family have suffered because of the horrific actions of one man. Neither can we quantify the emotional, psychological, physiological and financial impact of the crime Jamie Barrow committed against Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah.
“His actions were utterly heartless and cruel – and have caused a multigenerational trauma that we will never understand. Fatoumatta was a caring daughter, wife, sister, mother and friend. If love and compassion could make a person immortal, she would have lived forever".
“She had a pure heart and was greatly loved for her personality and qualities. She was the most incredible mother to Fatimah and Naeemah, two angels who deserved a beautiful childhood and a full life.
“Nottingham and the rest of the world have been denied potential future teachers, civil servants, doctors – who knows what they could have been? They lived a short but meaningful life, such was the joy and happiness they brought to us all.
“People repeatedly ask us how we as a family managed to stay calm and composed in the court room, the only true answer to this is the strength and patience given to us by Allah and our Khalifa as he always advises us to follow the law of the country and to stay steadfast.
“We have also received a great sense of companionship from our community the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jammat. The overwhelming support given to us by our Gambian Community here in the UK and around the world has encouraged us to keep calm and patient.
“We are extremely grateful and thankful to our family and friends, as well as the different communities within Nottingham that came together to give us support. This includes multiple communities all from different ethnicities and backgrounds.
“We also wish to thank the police investigation team, the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecution counsel and members of the jury for delivering the justice today’s verdicts provide.”
"This is a tragic case"
Following the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Clare Dean, of Nottinghamshire Police's Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a tragic case in which a caring and compassionate mother and two young children were taken away in the cruellest way imaginable.
“The loss of Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah was utterly senseless and, as a result, their family have experienced pain and distress which cannot be adequately described or even imagined.
“Our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly painful time, as well as the communities that have been affected by this most tragic of incidents.
“The fire took away a loving husband’s wife and children, whose dreams of a happy future together in the USA were snatched away by Jamie Barrow’s barbaric actions. He is a cruel and dangerous man and I am pleased justice has been served.
“I’d like to thank everyone who worked on this case to build the evidence against Barrow and also the public for their co-operation and understanding while we made inquiries in the area as part of the investigation.”
Detective Inspector Kaz Smithson, who led the investigation, said she was pleased with today’s verdicts.
She said: “Jamie Barrow committed the most despicable crime anyone could ever commit. He destroyed a whole family and took away their dreams of a happy life together in America.
“Today, justice has been served for Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah and their family, all of whom have carried themselves with incredible dignity since the night of this truly awful crime.
“Barrow denied the killings were deliberate but, thankfully, my investigative team was able to provide overwhelming evidence that this tragic event was indeed murder.
“We saw through his lies and, thankfully, so did the jury.
“Barrow knew Fatoumatta and the children were inside the property when he set fire to it and that they’d have no chance of surviving.
“It beggars belief. In my opinion Barrow is an extremely dangerous man and I am pleased he is no longer walking the streets.
“Finally, I want to thank the family for the dignity and incredible strength that they shown during the trial and hope they can draw some comfort from today’s verdicts.”
Chief Inspector Karl Thomas, the local neighbourhood commander at the time of the fire, said he hoped the verdicts would also bring a degree of comfort to members of the local community.
“This was an horrendous crime that broke a family and had an immense impact not just in Clifton but the wider community.
“Personally I've found it very upsetting and I remain very perplexed by the needless loss of life of a kind and compassionate mother and two innocent young children.
“After this tragedy, we saw how the local community came together to support each other and the family through the most painful of times. This included the Ahmadi Muslim community, the Gambian community, local neighbours and other well-wishers – and I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who came together and showed their support to Fatoumatta’s husband and wider family.
“The outpouring of support shows what a great community there is in Clifton and I know this has helped the family enormously.
“I acknowledge there are many members of the community who believe these murders were a hate crime. It’s important to say that, following a very detailed and thorough investigation by a large team of detectives, the investigation team left no stone unturned to investigate the circumstances and presented the evidence to the jury to reach these verdicts.
“Incidents of this type are very concerning and highlight why Nottinghamshire Police will continue to work hard, with the support of partner agencies and, importantly, the community to tackle and prevent all forms of crime.”
“They were a very pious and highly respected family"
Dr Irfan Malik, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Nottinghamshire, which supported the family of Mrs Hydara and her children following the fire, said: “The tragic events of 20th November 2022 sadly led to the premature deaths of three innocent victims, Fatoumatta Hydara and her young daughters Fatima and Naeemah.
“They were a very pious and highly respected family. Their traumatic loss has left a huge void for her husband, family and members of our Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Nothing will bring them back, however the verdict brings us some solace, that justice has been served.
“Our thoughts, prayers and support are with the family, friends and our faith community.”
Samantha Shallow from the CPS said: “The loss of these three lives is a tragedy for their loved ones and their community. The case we have put in front of the jury is that Jamie Barrow wanted to harm someone by setting a fire and three innocent people died as a result. There was never any question that this was a case of murder. He knew exactly what he was doing and what the consequences would be when he set the fire.
“The community have rightfully demanded justice and today, justice has been served. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies remain with those close to Mrs Hydara, Fatimah and Naeemah.”
Barrow will be sentenced on Friday (July 7).
