Waterford murders: Gardaí probe suspected drugs link to fire that claimed four lives
Firefighters and gardaí at the scene of the fire which claimed the lives of two adults and two children in the Birchwood estate in Waterford City. Picture: Micheál Ó Scannáil/PA
Gardaí are investigating whether an arson attack on a home in Waterford City that killed two adults and two children is connected to a drug debt.
Parents Kim and Philip English and two of their children died in the attack, while two other children are in a critical condition in University Hospital Waterford.
The children who died were named locally as Callum, 12, and Jayden, 8. Three of the children attended primary school and the oldest child is aged 14.
President Catherine Connolly expressed her condolences to the family at the “appalling” attack, while justice minister Jim O’Callaghan condemned the “heinous act of violence”.
Detectives are believed to have a good understanding of the background behind the attack, including the drug debt and the possible aggressor.
The individual, suspected of directing the intimidation, is a well-known drug dealer in the city.
Gardaí are trying to identify the individuals who carried out the actual attack and are gathering and analysing footage from house cameras and public CCTV systems in a bid to assist them.
The firebombing occurred at around 5am yesterday, while the occupants were asleep at their home in Birchwood estate.
It is suspected that some sort of accelerant may have been used, as the blaze spread very quickly from the front door and up the stairs.
The investigation team is examining information that Mr English may have taken on an alleged drug debt on behalf of someone close to him, which may be linked to the attack.
This person does not live at the English home in Birchwood. Gardaí will attempt to talk to him.
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“It’s unacceptable, this firebombing of houses regularly across the country,” one garda source said. “Since when did all this become acceptable?”
Central Statistics Office figures show that the number of arson attacks has increased from 1,542 in 2023 to 1,785 in 2025, with 884 in the first half of this year.
While the motives for arson attacks vary, and some of the locations are unoccupied, garda sources believe there has been a noticeable rise in arson attacks linked to drug-related intimidation.
Gardaí have previously published figures showing that arson attacks relating to drug crime rose from 13 in 2022 to around 50 in 2025.
Last May, the Drive (Drug-Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement) project revealed there were 1,027 reported cases of drug-related intimidation in 2025 and 2024, when systematic recording started.
Some 88 of those incidents involved property damage, 171 involved violence to the individual targeted, and 40 incidents involved violence to their family.
The tragedy comes on the same day the Government published its new national drugs strategy, in which it commits to supporting the rollout and resourcing of the Drive project.
The English family home has been targeted with vandalism on a number of occasions over the years.
Following one incident three years ago, when their new car was covered in paint, they went on Waterford local radio to highlight the attack. Gardaí are investigating all these incidents for any further clues.
Gardaí are also investigating if there are links to other incidents in Waterford city, including a suspected arson attack earlier this year at a separate property. No one was injured in that incident.
The investigation team in Waterford is being assisted by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and other national units are on standby.
A resident who knows the English family said local representatives had been liaising with the family in a bid to try and get them rehoused.
One of the councillors, who asked not to be named, claimed he asked the council what would happen if there were an arson attack.
They said: “A number of us have been into the council to get them out of that house. Sadly, we were told there is a policy of only moving someone on health grounds or if the family were to outgrow their property.
“Threats of violence are not a reason why the council will rehouse somebody.”
Other councillors confirmed that those meetings had taken place.
Following a recent incident at the house, a local councillor is understood to have been advising the family on the council’s options.
“They wanted to leave to a safer place, but there was little or nothing anybody could do for them,” a resident who knew them said.
- Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent
- Neil Michael, News Reporter
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