THE mystery surrounding the deaths of a wealthy couple found dead at their home will be unravelled today.

An inquest into the deaths of Paul and Jean Laithwaite is set to take place in Flint at 10am.

Police officers discovered the couple’s bodies at their luxury home Deeside House, Deeside Lane, Sealand, on January 17.

North East Wales coroner John Hughes revealed Mr Laithwaite, 64, died from a gunshot wound to the head, but no cause of death has so far been given for Mrs Laithwaite, 65.

The shock double death rocked the close-knit rural community.

Sealand Councillor Chris Jones last saw the well-respected couple at a Christmas church service at St Bartholomew’s Church.

She said: “It hit the community hard. It was a shock and something that none of us expected.

“People still wonder what actually happened, but no-one really talks about it anymore.

“I don’t think anything like that ever goes away from a small community. It will always be there because they were a well-respected couple and no-one will ever forget them.”

The couple had a long history of running businesses and Mr Laithwaite was the director of Deefab on Deeside Industrial Estate, which friends say Mrs Laithwaite helped to run.

The Laithwaites also ran Wavertree-based Laithwaite Engineering, which was dissolved in 2002 and property firm Trimside Ltd, based in Little Sutton.

They had three sons Marcus, Quentin and Jeremy, who paid a moving tribute to their parents in the days following their deaths.

Jeremy said: “Our parents could have been one person. They rarely did anything apart. They worked, played and laughed together.

“They were completely devoted to each other, and kind and generous to all.

“Father was the ultimate gentleman and if he could help anyone he did.”

Cllr Jones said she hoped today’s inquest would bring closure for the family.

“It must have been awful for the children,” she said.

“The family have suffered enough with losing their parents and all the publicity surrounding it.

“I really feel for them, but I hope after time this will bring closure for them, though I know it will always be there as they have lost their mum and dad.”