A Blackburn man has been found guilty of murdering his two young children and his former girlfriend.
Jordan Monaghan, 30, obstructed the airways of his helpless children in separate murders in January and August, 2013.
Preston Crown Court heard the construction worker described as a manipulative and controlling gambling addict, who obstructed the airways of his helpless children.
He murdered his 24-day-old daughter Ruby in January 2013 and took the life of his 21-month-old son in August 2013.
He then went on to kill his former partner Evie Adams, 23, six years later in October 2019.
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After 26 hours and 12 minutes of deliberations the jury returned guilty verdicts of guilty to the three counts of murder, along with two counts of attempting to murder a third child who collapsed while in Monaghan's care.
Laura Gray, the 28-year-old mother of the children, could be heard weeping in the public gallery as the verdicts were given.
Monaghan was not in Preston Crown Court to hear the verdicts today (December 17).
However Mr Justice Goose ordered he be brought to the court at 3pm this afternoon where he will be sentenced to life in prison.
The jury were unanimous in their verdicts that Monaghan, of Belvere Close, Blackburn, murdered Logan.
They returned guilty verdicts by a majority of 10 to two that he also smothered Ruby on New Year’s Day, 2013, as she slept in her Moses basket.
Monaghan was alone with the child as her mother slept upstairs at the family home.
Eight months later, after Miss Gray discovered that her boyfriend owed thousands of pounds in gambling debts, she told him the relationship was over.
The next day he took their son, Logan, aged 21 months, to a local swimming pool, Waves in Blackburn.
While alone in a cubicle in the changing rooms he smothered the child, the jury heard.
Ruby’s and Logan’s deaths were both investigated as sudden and unexplained events, but the girl’s death was attributed to bronchiolitis and Logan’s cause of death remained “unascertained”.
Both had been seen by medics in the days and months before their deaths, but other than usual childhood illnesses no serious medical condition was found.
But a review was carried out by Lancashire Police after further information came to light and Monaghan was arrested and bailed on suspicion of murder in January 2018.
The jury also agreed unanimously that he murdered Evie Adams in October 2019 by giving her a fatal overdose of Tramadol and Diazepam.
The pair began a “toxic” relationship with mother-of-one - police warned her not to be with him and a court order was made banning contact.
But the relationship continued and, while on bail for the murder of his children, Monaghan killed Miss Adams after she threatened to dump him.
Monaghan told her: “I won’t keep putting up with you saying we are over.”
The defendant illegally bought strong prescription drugs on the black market via WhatsApp and other contacts.
Miss Adams was found to have tramadol, diazepam, amitriptyline, zopiclone and pregabalin medication in her body after her collapse and death on October 24, 2019.
She died from tramadol and diazepam toxicity.
He then faked a suicide note from Miss Adams, discovered apparently by chance falling out of a picture frame as he removed the couple’s favourite photo of themselves to place in her coffin.
Monaghan was re-arrested in January this year and charged with all three murders.
He claimed to have nothing to do with the death of his children, but a dozen experts told the court that while the exact cause of the deaths was difficult to pin down, imposed airway obstruction was either “likely” or could not be ruled out.
Monaghan also claimed the illegal prescription drugs were for himself and denied ever giving any to Miss Adams.
