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Murder investigation launched into fatal house fire in Waterford
Gardaí say the blaze was started deliberately and are appealing for witnesses as two surviving children remain critically injured.
On Tuesday, four people including two children died in a deliberate arson attack on their Birchwood, Waterford home, prompting Gardaí to launch a "multiple murder" investigation.
Parents Philip English and Kim English were identified as victims; three years prior, their vehicle was targeted in a front-garden attack that devastated the couple and hindered hospital visits for an ill child.
Two surviving children remain in critical condition at a Dublin hospital. Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit appealed for witnesses between 4.30 and 5.30 a.m., asking anyone with dashcam footage to contact Waterford Garda Station at 051 305300.
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan described the arson as a "brutal and heinous act," insisting perpetrators would "face the full rigour of the law" as the National Bureau for Criminal Investigation supports the murder inquiry.
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan described the tragedy as "unspeakable," while local support hubs opened at Butler Community Centre; residents and community leaders rallied around the tight-knit Birchwood area offering prayers and solidarity.