Waterford arson attack victim’s uncle in message to killers after family ‘wiped out’ & says injured kids ‘not too good’

A RELATIVE of the family targeted in an arson attack which claimed four lives has pleaded with the killers to confess to their crime.

James English, an uncle of innocent victim Philip English, said those behind the blaze had “wiped out” nearly a whole family.

Philip, 50s, his wife Kim, 38, along with their sons, 12-year-old son Callum and Jayden, nine, died at the scene of their home in the early hours of Tuesday morning on the outskirts of Waterford city.

The couple’s two other children, a 14-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, are critical in Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin, Dublin.

Speaking near the scene, James English explained how Callum was his godson.

He told how the wider family are “not too good” as they come to terms with the tragedy.

And he said: “Well, whoever knows, you’d want to turn up and say, own up whoever’s done it. At the end of the day, we have a lot of the family now wiped out.

“Please, whoever’s done it, own up. Be a man of it and own up for what you have done.”

Giving an update on the two children in hospital, James added: “She’s not too good, or the little fella’s not too good at the moment.”

The Garda Technical Bureau are back at the scene at Birch Avenue as detectives hone in on a number of suspects.

At least two raids were carried out linked to two local drug dealers on Tuesday night.

One of the men is known to investigators for carrying out drug debt intimidation.

Gardai believe Philip, who was not involved in any crime, and his family were targeted due to his connection with another man who had a drug debt.

The Irish Sun revealed today that Philip had only sat down with gardai 10 days prior to the arson after his car was set alight.

Cops also believe the local gang carried out this attack.

Today, speaking after laying flowers at the house, the school principal of the two children who were killed said that the school will 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 described one of the children as “a lovely young fella” and said the other “lights up the school every day with that smile as he comes through the door”.

She added: “We just want to extend sympathies to the community and to the family.

“We have a very strong staff. We’re very united, and everybody’s willing to talk openly about the whole situation.

“So we’re lucky from that perspective that we do have a wonderful staff, and the boys will be at the forefront of everything.”

A community hub has been set up in the nearby Butler Community Centre, where councillors are available to speak to locals.

Six psychologists have also been allocated to local schools to help support children.

A prayer vigil will take place at Sacred Heart Church in The Folly at 5pm this evening.