The son of a man killed alongside his wife and two children in a house fire in Waterford has claimed his family were murdered because of someone else's 20,000 euro drug debt.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Wednesday evening in the Birchwood area, where the local parish priest called on those responsible to "to stand up, admit what you did and face the legal consequences".
Multiple properties have been searched and a number of electronic devices and vehicles seized as part of an "intense" Garda investigation into the arson attack that led to the deaths of Philip and Kim English and their sons Callum, 12, and Jayden, nine. Two other children were critically injured in the blaze in the Irish city.
Family 'innocent' and 'targeted'
Mr English's son, John James English, said the family had been targeted for some time but were not involved in drugs and were "innocent". He told RTÉ News: "It's a family, you know. Twenty grand worth of a debt; is that worth nearly five lives?"
At a prayer vigil at Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday evening, Father Gerry Chestnutt called on the local community to "wrap each other in love". "We may even find words hard to speak, but our emotions can be shown," he told the congregation of around 500. "Each one of us knows that what happened in Birch Avenue yesterday should never, ever have happened.
"An innocent family preparing for a new day should have done what they did every day: parents preparing their children for school. An innocent family taken from our midst in a most horrific and violent way.
"I want to say, even though they're not here, that the persons responsible need to have the courage now to stand up, admit what you did and face the legal consequences of what you did. And I would also say to all here present: if you know anything whatsoever about what happened on Birch Avenue, please contact An Garda Síochána."
Uncle and former wife appeal
An uncle of Philip English has called on anyone with information to come forward. James English, who said he is also the godfather of one of the children who died, said: "Whoever did it, he better feel ashamed of himself." He called on any witnesses to go to the garda with whatever information they have, adding: "Well, whoever knows, they'd want to turn up and own up, whoever done it. At the end of the day, we have a loss of family now, wiped out. So please, whoever done it, own up, be a man."
Philip English's former wife Anne English said they were a happy family. "I just have no words. I'm lost and I'm going to be lost without them," she said. "She's (Kim English) my best friend. We were very, very close. I heard when I got a phone call from one of my family and I jumped out up of bed. Since then I am numb. I am just shocked. The family is very close. Very happy. I have no words, just disbelief. They were a lovely couple. Never bothering anyone. The kids were his (Philip's) life." She appealed to anyone with information to come forward. "It's just a devastating loss for everyone in the community, the wider family and schools," Mrs English added.
Community mourns and Taoiseach responds
Crowds from the local community filled the green area in Birchwood for a balloon release ceremony on Wednesday night to commemorate the lives of the four people who died in the fire. Family members sang You'll Never Walk Alone in tears as hundreds of balloons were released into the sky. One local mother told her young child: "They're waiting up there to catch them all."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Wednesday that the Government will put in place all resources needed for the garda investigation and for community support, as he thanked the first responders for dealing with "what was a very traumatic situation". "Our thoughts are still very much on the shocking murder yesterday of the members of the English family," he said. "The situation is extremely shocking in terms of the level of violence and the consequences of an entire family to be impacted in this manner, and I think we, as a Government, will ensure that the full resources are behind An Garda Síochána. It's also a period we have to really examine and reflect on this phenomenon of arson attacks on innocent people, and with absolutely no consideration for human life and for the impact of such actions, and I know the Minister for Justice and others will be working extremely hard to stamp this out and to deal very resolutely and robustly with this."
Speaking after laying flowers at the house on Wednesday, the principal of the school the two young victims attended said they would do everything to make school life normal for the rest of the pupils. Surrounded by a group of teachers who also brought flowers, Caroline Douris from Scoil Lorcáin Boys' National School paid tribute to Callum and Jayden. "We just want to extend sympathies to the community and to the family," she said.
Six psychologists have been allocated to local schools to help support children and a community hub has been set up in the nearby Butler Community Centre, where councillors are available to speak to locals. Waterford TD John Cummins said the family had been in his constituency office in the past and said his office staff are really upset. Asked if they had expressed concerns about their safety in that meeting, he said they had not, but added that he had spoken to the chief superintendent on Tuesday and "An Garda Síochána are following a direct line of investigation". He added: "There's no words to describe this. It's definitely upsetting. Everyone is really hurt and upset by what's happening."
