‘They just wanted to burn my children to death’

NIALL McNamara says he knows who is responsible for the horrific attack which has left his son and daughter scarred for life.

The children were in the back of their mother’s car when it exploded into flames. Niall says those responsible deliberately set out to burn his children to death.

“They wanted to burn my children to death. They have ruined my children’s lives. They are so badly burned. I know who they are. One is 14 and the others are older.”

The 35-year-old lorry driver claims they had been paid to carry out the attack on his family, but did not know why his family were targeted.

“Our house was attacked years ago and the windows of my pick-up smashed in. But that had nothing to do with the people who burned my children.”

His daughter Philomena (Millie) aged six and son, Gavin, aged four were being treated for extensive burns in Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

The attack happened at Pineview Gardens, Moyross where Mr McNamara and his partner, Sheila Murray had lived for over 10 years.

“We were together for 16 years. We separated a few months ago and I moved back to live with my mother in Garryowen. Sheila was on her way to Garryowen with Millie and Gavin and I was to take them to the park.”

They have six other children, Celine 17, Noelle 15, Niall 13, Nicola 11, Jason eight, and one-year-old Dillon. Dillon was also to travel in the car.

“Sheila went to drive down the road to a neighbour’s house before setting off for Garryowen. Millie and Gavin got into the car for a spin before they were to go back and collect the baby.

“Sheila did not put Dillon into the car at that stage as Noelle was changing his nappy. Had he been in the car he would have no chance as he is strapped into a baby seat.”

Niall said while Sheila was at the neighbour’s house, three youths poured petrol into the back seat through an open window.

“Millie and Gavin did not know what was happening. When Sheila came out of the neighbour’s house to drive back to collect Dillon at our own house, they (the teenagers) ran up and threw lighted fire lighters into the car.

“As Sheila drove off the whole back seat area of the car where the children were, exploded. She tried to open the back door of the car, but there was a child lock on it. So she had to jump out and open the back door from the outside to get Millie and Gavin out. A local young lad came to the rescue and helped her. My kids will never, never again step inside Moyross.”

Niall said he believes the attackers were paid to carry out a deliberate attack on his children for some unknown reason. “I know who did it. They are from the area and aged about 14 and 16. They were seen doing it and I think they were paid to do it. I have that feeling. I got a call on my mobile saying there was petrol thrown into the car just before it happened. It was thrown on the back seat and the print of the seat was burned into the children’s skin.

“They just wanted to burn my children to death.

“The doctors at the hospital said that they should have nine and half pints of body fluid but that one was missing seven and a half pints and the other lost six and a half pints.

They were badly burned when the seat caught fire under them. Do they (attackers) know what they have done. What sort of people would do that to children?”