Police fear an innocent family killed in an arson attack at their home were targeted by a drug gang over a debt owed by someone they knew.

Philip and Kim English were killed alongside sons Callum, 12, and Jayden, nine, after a suspected petrol bomb set their house ablaze in the city of Waterford in southern Ireland at around 5am on Tuesday.

Two other children – Nadia, who has leukaemia, and her brother Elliot – were clinging to life at Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin. Nadia is on life support while Elliot is in a critical condition. 

The family had previously spoken about a campaign of intimidation against them that has lasted three years. This included reports that the family’s car had been set alight more than a week ago. 

Police had also investigated a previous attempted arson attack at the home less than a month ago. 

Investigators have launched a quadruple murder probe with the belief Tuesday’s deadly arson is connected to the drug gang. 

It is understood the family were targeted due to an affiliation that Mr English, who had no involvement in drugs, had to a man who owed the gang a five-figure sum.

The gang allegedly targeted the family after Mr English was unable to raise the money in time. 

Jayden, nine, was killed when his family home was attacked by a suspected petrol bomb early on Tuesday morning

Philip English with son Callum, 12, who both lost their lives in the fire in Waterford, in southern Ireland 

Kim and Philip English died in the blaze in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Birch Avenue, around three kilometres from Waterford city

Friends of Mrs English told the Irish Sun how paint was thrown over the family’s car while they were sleeping. A social media account was set up to target the family, they said. Mrs English had also asked the city council to move the family, it was claimed. 

Attackers hurled a suspected petrol bomb at the front door of the house in the Birchwood estate, around two miles from Waterford, as the couple and their four children slept. 

One witness to the aftermath explained how he was awoken by a ‘huge crash’ and then ‘all I heard was screaming and crying’ and people engulfed in flames. 

The young man described seeing things ‘no human should have to see’, adding that he had already received counselling in the immediate aftermath of the attack. 

He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘I saw people on fire. I heard screaming and shouting. 

‘There was glass breaking and I just remember looking across the road and not believing what I was seeing. I saw things no human being should have to see and that’s going to stick with me for the rest of my life.

‘The screams are just stuck in my head. Every time I close my eyes I just see it again.

A burnt-out window in the family home in the Birch Avenue 

Callum was a beloved team member of Johnville FC and has played for the team for five years

‘I’ve already gone to counselling that they’ve set up in the local community centre. I just don’t know what else to say.’

While gardaí are at the very early stages of their investigation, it is understood that there are several people of interest on whom they are gathering information. 

This includes one man who is well known to gardaí for his involvement in the local drugs trade. He is known as an ‘enforcer’ for one of the main drug gangs in the city.

One avenue of investigation for gardaí is that the fire was set as a result of a five-figure drug debt. None of the people inside the house were responsible for this debt and were ‘completely innocent’, sources stressed to the Mail. 

Neighbours told the Mail of the harrowing scene they experienced in the early hours of Tuesday. One woman, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I must have rang 999 ten times. 

‘There was this huge smashing sound and then all I could hear was screams. I knew there was children in there. 

‘One of the neighbours there whose house is attached to the back of theirs [the victims] jumped over the wall and tried to get into the house to save them. But there was just too much smoke. He couldn’t get in in time. It was just all screaming and we couldn’t do anything.’ 

Speaking to WLR FM back in 2023, Mr and Mrs English had detailed their dismay after their car was targeted outside their home. 

Mr and Mrs English had spoken about being the victims of a campaign of intimidation

Emergency services at the scene on after a fire claimed four lives 

At the time, Mrs English said she was ‘disgusted’. ‘I don’t know how anyone could do this to anybody,’ she said. ‘I have children, I need that car for the kids for school. I have appointments.’ 

Back then, the couple said paint had been thrown over the car between around 2.30am and 2.50am, and that ‘nothing like this had ever happened before’. 

There were also threats made against members of the family in recent weeks on social media. 

The most recent incident was the attempted firebombing of a black Seat car owned by the family about three weeks ago. Gardaí investigated the arson attempt, which happened at about 2.20am on Friday, September 18. 

Johnville Football Club, based in Waterford, paid tribute to Callum who had played with the team for five years. It also shared a GoFundMe page set up for funeral expenses. 

The club described his team mates and coaches as ‘devastated’, adding: ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with all the family, their relatives and friends following this unimaginable loss. We are also thinking of those who are still fighting for their lives in hospital, and we sincerely hope they can pull through.’

The family lived in the housing estate for several years and were ‘well liked’, according to local priest Fr Gerry Chestnutt, who had baptised all of the English children. 

‘It’s devastating. It’s heartbreaking for this local community because, as you can see, there are a lot of houses here and it’s a very tight-knit community, and a lot of the people are here since the estate opened back in 2001,’ he said. 

Gardaí investigate the scene in Birch Avenue in Waterford city where four members of the English family were killed

‘As you can see, there are people out on the street. They’re just absolutely devastated and heartbroken, but they will support each other. 

‘You can just feel the silence and the sense of sadness around. I knew them. They were nice, nice people, lovely people. 

‘I knew the parents very well. They were really good parents, and the kids, they were just really good kids. We would have had a Confirmation for one of them a couple of years ago. I probably baptised the whole lot of them as well as Holy Communions and that sort of thing.’ 

Anthony Pettit, Garda Chief Superintendent for Waterford and Kilkenny, confirmed they were treating the four deaths as murder. Chief Supt Pettit said: ‘Two adults and two of their children died in the fire. Two more of their children are currently admitted to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Crumlin where they are receiving treatment for critical injuries. 

‘My thoughts, and the thoughts of all members of An Garda Síochána and the community, are with the extended family at this time. The house at Birch Avenue has been declared a crime scene and is currently subject to a technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

‘The Waterford Coroner’s office and that of the State Pathologist have been notified.

‘An Garda Síochána believe that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown and that the fire was started deliberately.

‘Gardaí in Waterford are appealing to any person who has information on this multiple murder and arson attack to speak with investigating members.

‘In particular, gardaí wish to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Birch Avenue, Birchwood, between 4.30am and 5.30am on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

‘Gardaí are also appealing to anyone who was driving in the vicinity of Birchwood, or the adjoining roads, between 4.30am and 5.30am on Tuesday, and who may have dashcam footage or images, to make such footage available to investigating gardaí.’

Chief Supt Pettit added: ‘The investigation team can be contacted at the incident room at Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.’ 

In a statement, Waterford Fire Service said it was alerted to a house fire at Birch Avenue at 5.13am.

It added: ‘A number of units from surrounding stations attended and on arrival found a well-developed fire.

‘Firefighting operations commenced immediately, and a number of casualties were removed from the two-storey house.

‘The fire was extinguished and the scene handed over to An Garda Síochána.’