AN OSWESTRY man believed to have killed his wife and daughter then taken his own life was a doting father who would "go red if you swore in front of him", a family friend said.
Graeme Robson, 45, spoke after attending prayers for the McFall family.
Susan McFall, 56, and 18-year-old daughter Francesca, known as Frankie, were found dead at their home in Hampton Road, Oswestry, on Friday morning.
The body of Hugh McFall, 48, was found a few hours later at an industrial lock-up he rented in nearby St Martins.
It is thought the flower salesman killed his wife and daughter before taking his own life.
Speaking outside the town's Parish Church of St Oswald, where special prayers were held ahead of the usual service, Mr Robson dismissed rumours of financial problems that may have driven Mr McFall to kill his family.
He said he went out with Nicola Gillham, Mrs McFall's daughter from a previous marriage, for around three years until they broke up two years ago.
He said: "I lost my mum and my dad moved to Spain so they basically became my family.
"I was close to Sue, Frankie and Hugh. They were like my family for the best part of three years."
He said he had seen Frankie only last week when she had offered to buy him a drink last night to celebrate his birthday.
"She said, 'I'll see you on Saturday and buy you a drink'," Mr Robson said.
"I don't relate any of what has happened to Hugh as a father.
"He doted on Frankie beyond belief, she was a very clever girl, a very pretty girl.
"He would do anything for her. I think that's the hardest part.
"He was very close to Nicola his step-daughter as well. He was just a really, really genuine bloke. If you swore in front of him he would go red."