Family killed in Waterford arson linked to €20,000 drug debt

A vigil held in Waterford City has heard a family member claim the arson attack that killed four members of the English family was motivated by a €20,000 drug debt.

John James English, one of ten children from Philip English’s first marriage, said the debt had been incurred by someone else and that the firebombing of the Birchwood Estate home in the early hours of Tuesday was “not done for a pack of pop corn, €50, or name‑calling”.

The victims were Philip English’s wife Kim and their children, 12‑year‑old Callum and nine‑year‑old Jayden. Two other children, Nadia, 14, and Elliot, six, remain in critical condition at Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

Gardaí investigating the murder suspect a gang led by two brothers from another part of the city, known for drug‑related intimidation. Homes linked to the suspects were searched on Tuesday night and electronic devices and vehicles seized are now being examined.

At the vigil in Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, parish priest Fr Gerry Chestnutt urged anyone with information to contact Gardaí. Taoiseach Micheál Martin pledged full resources for the investigation and community support.

A GoFundMe page for funeral costs has raised over €41,000 of a €50,000 target, with more than 1,500 donations.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Gordo Delgado / Pexels.