Mairead Philpott set to appeal against length of jail sentence for killing her six children after defence lawyer says her role 'was not as substantial as the judge assessed' Mairead Philpott was jailed for 17 years for killing her six children She is appealing the length of her sentence as she believes it is 'too long' Her husband Mick Philpott was jailed for life last month At the sentencing hearing she was told that she had ignored 'obvious' risks to her children's lives The wife of Mick Philpott is to appeal the length of her 17 year sentence for killing her six children in a house fire, her lawyer said today. Mairead Philpott, 32, was jailed alongside her husband at Nottingham Crown Court last month after being found guilty of the manslaughter of children Jade, John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden and Duwayne. At the sentencing hearing, Mrs Justice Thirlwall told Mairead Philpott she had ignored 'obvious' risks to her children's lives by going along with a plan to set fire to her home in Allenton, Derby. Appeal: Mairead Philpott (left) was jailed for 17 years for killing her six children in a house fire Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham earlier today, defence barrister Shaun Smith QC confirmed that lawyers were planning to take the case to the Court of Appeal. Mr Smith, who represented Mairead Philpott during her trial, said of the 17-year jail term: 'We think it was too long and we are going to the Court of Appeal to see whether or not we can persuade the Court of Appeal to reduce the sentence. She was instrumental in killing six children, but we feel as though her role in the killing of the six children was not as substantial as the trial judge has assessed. Community in grief: The six dead children are carried into St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Bridgegate, Derby, as they are laid to rest Tragic end: Kind-hearted locals raised £15,000 for the funeral of Mick Philpott's six children (top row, l-r) Jayden, five, Jessie, six, Jack, eight, (bottom row, l-r) John, nine, Jade, 10, and Duwyane, 13 'We'll have to wait and see what the Court of Appeal say. It may well be that the Court of Appeal give us short shrift. Mick Philpott was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years after being branded a 'disturbingly dangerous' man. His wife, who is likely to be released after serving half of her 17-year term, took part in a plan to set fire to the couple's home in Victory Road in an effort to frame his former mistress. Following the trial, Derbyshire Police said none of the defendants had shown any remorse for killing the children, who were aged between five and 13. Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Kate Meynell said: 'They have lied throughout the investigation and court case. Dangerous: Mairead was told that she ignored 'obvious' risks to her children's safety Life-sentence: Mick Philpott (centre) was jailed for life as he was labelled a disturbingly dangerous man There were plenty of opportunities to admit their guilt but they never did and persisted with their denials. During his radio interview, Mr Smith described Mairead Philpott as being 'very scared' and 'very vulnerable'. The barrister told the BBC: 'She was clearly someone who had been in a horrendous relationship, as the court heard. She was someone who quite frankly was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a very upsetting case for everybody involved and I think it took a little piece out of me at the end of the day.