Footballers form guard of honour for teammate, parents, and brother killed in Waterford arson attack
Four coffins of Philip and Kim English and their sons, Jayden and Callum, are carried into Sacred Heart Church Parish Centre, The Folly, Waterford, ahead of their funeral on Monday, after they died in an arson attack on their home in Waterford. Picture: Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA
Youngsters from a Waterford football club who last weekend celebrated a massive 6-1 victory, provided a guard of honour as the coffins of one their team mates and those of his parents and brother were brought in to a church in the city on Sunday.
Philip and Kim English and their sons Callum, aged 12, and Jayden, 9, died following a petrol bomb attack on their home in the Birchwood estate in Waterford city at around 5am last Tuesday.
Four hearses containing the coffins of the four family members arrived at the Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, in Waterford city shortly before 2pm today.
Poignantly, the coffins were briefly lined up next to each other outside the church. The two white coffins of the children were placed in the middle as the wooden coffins of their parents flanked them on either side.
Four candles – two big and two small— remained lighting in front of a picture of the English family on a table inside the church for the duration of the three hour removal.
The Irish tricolour, a Waterford flag and a Liverpool FC jersey were amongst the items draped on the coffins.
Callum and his father Philip were huge Liverpool FC fans. The club anthem “You’ll Never walk alone” was played at a vigil earlier this week at the Birchwood estate as pink and blue balloons were released in to the sky. The family were well known and liked in the estate where they had lived for many years.
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Parish priest Fr Gerry Chestnutt blessed each of the coffins. The coffins were then moved to a room in the parish centre next door where a removal got underway shortly after 2pm today.
Young boys from Johnville FC, where Callum won a league title at under 11 level, completed their guard of honour. They then sat on a low wall outside the parish centre as they waited patiently to go in and pay their last respects to the family.
They were wearing their black and yellow club jerseys. The club has opted to permanently retire the number five jersey as a tribute to Callum.
Coaches at the club previously said that Philip and Kim were always pitchside at matches cheering Callum and his team mates on.
Some members of the local community who were too upset to go in to the parish centre opted instead to sign the condolence book at the church. A few lit candles whilst others sat in silent prayer.
Fr Chestnutt and Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore chatted to groups of mainly women who approached them outside the centre. Persons of varying ages attended the removal.
Several mothers who had small children in buggies took turns to go in to sympathise with the relatives of the deceased.
Elderly people accompanied their adult children who in turn had brought their young children many of whom were friends of Callum and Jayden. Four bikers arrived in unison at around 3pm and paid their respects to the family at the centre.
A joint funeral mass will take place at the Sacred Heart Church tomorrow at 1pm followed by burial in Kilbarry cemetery.
Two children, a girl and a boy, aged 14 and 6, who were rescued from the blaze last Tuesday morning remain in a critical condition at the Children’s hospital in Crumlin in Dublin. The six-year-old boy underwent open heart surgery at the hospital as a toddler.
His brother Jayden was also a frequent visitor to the hospital as he had the same heart defect. The 14-year-old girl has also previously been a patient onsite as she was treated in Crumlin for a serious childhood illness.
Mourners have been asked to make a donation to the hospital in lieu of flowers.
Meanwhile, one close friend of Kim English, who declined to be named, previously said that the family were “dearly loved.”
“Kim was my best friend of seven years. Maybe eight. These people should never have been victims. All I can do now is help them poor babies get through this. They were a family who loved each other so much and were so happy all the time. A whole family taken far too early and for what really—for what?”
Philip English was predeceased by his mother Bridget, his daughter Rachael and his sister Catherine. His ex wife, Anne English, was among those who attended the removal this afternoon.
He is survived by eleven children, his father Paddy, his five siblings, his grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends.
Kim English, nee Companjen, who grew up in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork was predeceased by her mother Joke Voets.
She is survived by her two young children, her step children, her father Richard, stepmother Teresa, step father Marc Voets, her six siblings, in-laws, extended family, neighbours and friends.
A 21-year-old man, and a 31-year-old woman, appeared before Clonmel District Court on Saturday, charged in connection with the attack at the Birchwood Estate last Tuesday morning. They were remanded in custody to appear before Waterford District Court on Tuesday.
A number of businesses in Waterford will remain closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the family. CC Creatives, The House of Food and the Kiosk café on John Roberts Square are among those who have decided to honour the family by shutting their doors for the day.
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