Waterford family murder: Manhunt under way after fatal Birchwood estate arson attack
Floral tributes outside the scene of suspected arson attack at a house in Birchwood, Waterford, which claimed the lives of two adults and two children. Picture: PA
A manhunt is under way for a number of people suspected of involvement in the fatal arson attack that killed a family of four in Waterford.
A local family, believed to be involved in the drug trade and other criminal activity, is suspected of being behind the attack at the Birchwood estate on Tuesday morning.
A number of men from the same family are being pursued by gardaí, it is understood. The getaway car is believed to have been driven by a woman.
Multiple searches have been carried out at properties in Waterford. Although no suspects were arrested, phones, laptops and cars have been seized and are being analysed.
A meeting of Waterford City Council on Thursday afternoon is due to be adjourned as a mark of respect to the victims.
Shortly after 5am on Tuesday, a suspected petrol bomb was thrown at a home in the Birchwood estate while a family of six slept inside.
The fire quickly took hold, trapping four family members inside.
Kimberly (Kim) English, her husband Philip English and their sons, 12-year-old Callum and nine-year-old Jayden, died in the fire.
Two other children, a 14-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, were rescued by firefighters. They remained in a critical condition at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Crumlin on Wednesday.
Kim English, née Companjen, had previously lived in West Cork before moving to Waterford, it is understood.
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Philip English’s son, John James English, has claimed the killings were linked to a €20,000 cocaine debt allegedly incurred by someone known to his father.
John James said Philip and his family were not involved in drugs, but that his father had taken on the debt to help someone close to him.
John James said he had been studying CCTV footage from the area and had seen people who appeared to be surveying the house in the week before the attack.
A car at the property had been petrol-bombed in recent weeks, while the family’s car was also covered in paint outside the home in 2023.
The same drug gang is suspected of being behind these incidents.
John James is one of 10 children from Philip English’s first marriage.
He said his mother, Anne English, had been forced to leave her home after it was previously petrol-bombed and had lived with Philip, Kim and their children for two months.
Nine-year-old Jayden had survived a heart operation in recent weeks.
His older brother, Callum, 12, who was also killed in the fire, played football with Waterford club Johnville FC.
“He was part of our U11 team that proudly won the league two seasons ago. All his team mates and coaches are absolutely devastated by the news, this pain of this tragedy will take a long time to heal,” a statement from the club said.
The statement added that Callum’s parents had always been present to support him at matches.
Chief Supt Andrew Pettit said that people in the local community know the person or persons who carried out this arson attack in which four people were murdered.
He appealed to anyone with information to speak to the garda investigation team at Waterford Garda Station or contact the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or to “speak with any member of An Garda Síochána that you know."
Gardaí appealed to anyone who was in the vicinity between 4.30am and 5.30am on Tuesday to contact the incident room at Waterford Garda station on 051 305300, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
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