The birth of their first child should have been a moment of sheer joy for her proud parents. But instead, the arrival of tiny Megan Valerie Diack was tinged with heartbreak following the murder of her father Andrew days before.

The 8lb 11oz infant, who is in good health, was sleeping soundly at the family home in Stafford Road, Fordhouses, as her 28-year-old mother Rachel Evans spoke of her love for the father who will never see his daughter grow up. The new arrival joins three-year-old Reegan, Rachel’s son from another relationship.

Reegan was happily playing at home yesterday as Rachel faced up to the prospect of facing the future without her “soulmate”.

She said: “I am just devastated that she will never see her dad. He would have been so proud of her.

“He would have been the best dad in the world. We will miss him so much.”

Mr Diack, who was 29, was stabbed once in the chest at the Flying Dutchman pub in Claverley Drive, Merry Hill, 10 days before his daughter’s birth last Tuesday. He died at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital a short time later.

Mr Diack, born in Scotland, attended Whitgreave Infant and Junior Schools before moving on to Moreton Community School and Northicote School.

After leaving there, he worked for his stepfather Alan Davies’s road-marking company STS, where he became a director.

The Flying Dutchman has remained shut since the tragedy and, following a police request, Wolverhampton City Council revoked its drinks licence until March 9 when its fate will be decided at a licensing meeting.

The move followed the revelation that people were still drinking at the pub when the tragedy happened early on February 7, more than an hour after it should have been cleared.

Mr Diack’s funeral will take place tomorrow at St Mary’s Church, Bushbury, at 12.30pm.

Michael Brown, 18, of Langley Road, Merry Hill, has been remanded in custody accused of Mr Diack’s murder. He will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on May 5.