Waterford murders: Garda Commissioner expects further arrests in fatal arson investigation
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said detectives investigating Tuesday’s fatal arson attack in Waterford are “quite satisfied” with the direction of the investigation, adding that “further arrests” are expected.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan described the murders of parents Kim and Philip English and their sons, 12-year-old Callum and nine-year-old Jayden, as a “watershed” moment for Ireland.
He said the killings should be a watershed not only for gardaí and the Government, but also for people who take recreational drugs, saying they were “supporting the horrific events we saw in Waterford” by funding the drugs industry.
The two were speaking at the Garda College in Templemore, where 207 new gardaí were attested, bringing the force to a record 14,825 members.
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Commissioner Kelly said he had spoken to the lead officer in the Waterford multiple homicide investigation on Friday morning.
“My condolences go out to the English family and the wider community in Waterford, absolutely horrendous crime,” he told the media.
“We’ve a full homicide investigation underway and we’ve made significant progress in the last number of days. We undertook seven searches of houses, we seized a number of items in connection with the investigation and we have two people in custody at the moment.”
He added: “We do anticipate further arrests in this case. I spoke to lead investigator myself this morning, so we’re quite satisfied as to the direction the investigation is going and needless to say we will keep going with the investigation and give every resource to it. I’m briefed practically on an hourly basis.”
The two people arrested on Thursday — a couple believed to have young children — are being questioned on suspicion of helping an organised crime group commit a serious offence.
They are being held under special anti-gang legislation, which allows for a maximum detention period of seven days with court approval.
Commissioner Kelly said he was alarmed by the increased use of petrol bombs in drug-related intimidation cases in recent years.
The reported on Thursday that the number of drug-related arson attacks had risen from 18 in 2021 to 51 in 2025.
“There is an increased use of devices, petrol bombs, we've certainly seen an increased level of that. Obviously we are very concerned about that,” he said.
He said An Garda Síochána was increasing its targeting of both higher-level and medium-level gangs.
“It is difficult [to investigate] because people outsource the debt, there’s often layers in it,” the commissioner said. “We have very good investigators in An Garda Síochána and I certainly ask the public, not just in this case, but they need to come forward to us with information.”
He added: “It’s really important we don’t let people do this with impunity.”
Mr O’Callaghan described the quadruple murders as horrific.
“I think it was a watershed event: a family of six people attacked, attempts made to kill the whole family, four of them murdered, two in a critical condition. So it’s a very significant event.”
He said gardaí were making “very significant progress” in the investigation.
“It’s a watershed moment, but it has to be a watershed moment not just for An Garda Síochána or the Government or politicians, it has to be a watershed moment for the public as well.”
The minister added: “People who are this weekend taking cocaine need to recognise that they are funding organised crime that are involved in murdering people for debts of €20,000. The public need to look at their behaviour, by taking drugs, by funding the drugs industry you are supporting the horrific events we saw in Waterford.”
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