Thug held over arson attack that killed 4 ‘just out of jail’ & ‘paid few hundred euro’ as lifted female ‘drove own car’

THE young criminal held over an arson attack that killed two children and their parents was recently released from prison for burglary, we can reveal. Gardai tonight are continuing to quiz the thug and a female accomplice after arresting the pair this morning. They are both suspected of being at the scene of the firebomb attack, on the outskirts of Waterford city at around 5am of Tuesday. Innocent Philip English, in his 50s, wife Kim, 38, and their sons Callum, 12, and Jayden, nine, died in the horror blaze. The couple’s daughter, 14, and six-year-old son continue to fight for their lives in hospital. Detectives now believe the family’s electric car was struck by a petrol bomb, causing it to explode into the home, which became engulfed in flames within minutes. Gardai suspect the arrested man, aged in his 20s, carried out the attack after being contracted by a Traveller gang. He was released from prison in recent months after being banged up for a burglary offence. His alleged accomplice, a woman in her 30s, is believed to have driven the yob and others to and from the scene — in her own car. A source said: “The man arrested is suspected of being the one who threw the petrol bomb. He is known to Gardai as a low-level criminal, someone likely to have only been paid several hundred euro to carry it out.” Most read in The Sun Another source added: “These are bottom of the chain. It’s certainly a line of inquiry that the men involved essentially took up the job for a Traveller gang.” The pair are being held under anti-gang legislation, Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act. They can be held for seven days. Two other men remain suspects but have yet to be arrested. Gardai spoke to at least one of them when they were among the targets of a series of raids on Tuesday evening. Philip, Kim and their four kids were targeted at around 5am as they lay asleep in bed at 7 Birch Avenue, in the Birchwood estate. The fire engulfed the home so quickly that the family all became trapped upstairs. A joint funeral for the four victims will be held at Sacred Heart Church, in the Folly, Waterford, at 1pm on Monday. A death notice said they will be “sadly missed” by their extended family. The tragic couple’s two surviving kids were rescued by firefighters. They are being treated at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin, with relatives saying their prospects are “not too good”. Detectives quickly identified the arson attack suspects, with cops seizing cars and phones on the evening of the horror. The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is examining GPS data from the vehicles, to trace their whereabouts at various times. Other experts are trawling through the phones, tracing messages and who the suspects were in contact with as they build their case. Officers are also using CCTV to trace the movements of the lifted woman’s car on the day in question. A senior source said: “These are complex investigations that take time, but it is progressing well.” The victims had no involvement in crime but Philip’s son from a previous relationship claimed on Wednesday that the family were targeted over a €20,000 drug debt owed by someone known to them. John James English, who said they were not involved in drugs and were “innocent”, added: “It’s a family, you know. “Twenty grand worth of a debt, is that worth nearly five lives?” He said they had been targeted for some time before the arson. Philip’s car was burned out last month and he sat down with cops just ten days prior to the attack. The Irish Sun understands the dad spoke at length about the background to the situation. Kim had also expressed fears for her life to friends and family. The quadruple murder highlights the issue surrounding drug debt intimidation, an issue Waterford city has grappled with for years. Local Sinn Fein councillor John Hearne has had around 40 people who are living in fear for their lives approach him in recent years. And he’s had his own car burnt out for his work helping others. Describing the violence dished out by local gangs, John said: “The very first case I had was, two women got put out of their home. “A young fella said something and he beat up the two girls and beat up the child. And then the same crowd, they attacked that home, they threw a petrol bomb in the window and it landed on a kid. “I’ve come across another girl, they beat her with a hammer. “Another fella, they chopped off a few fingers on him. So it’s serious, it’s intimidation. They burnt out my own car one time. “In another case, there was two different crowds trying to kick in a door, three different outfits going to the one house looking for money. “The son had ripped off three different outfits and they were kicking in the door.” He added: “The sadness about it, the amount of fear is incredible. “I remember just going in and meeting parents and they can’t eat, they can’t talk, they can’t work, they can’t function with the fear.” Local Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane, who knows the family, has told how people in Waterford were devastated by their deaths. Speaking in the Dail today, he said: “This murderous attack showed utter contempt for human life, and anyone who planned, ordered, or carried out this attack must face the full force of the law. “Drug-related intimidation must also be confronted head on. Other families are looking out their front doors and wondering, could their children be next?” He called on the Government to ensure that Waterford has all the Garda resources needed for the murder investigation. Deputy Cullinane added: “Will you ensure that families reporting threats have all the supports that they need, including an urgent risk assessment, a named contact and a co-ordinated protection plan, with access to safe emergency accommodation when needed? “Will you commit to a review of how threats and requests for help are managed, and how families are supported? And will the Minister for Justice report to this House next week on the wider response to drug-related intimidation? “Because the response to these murders cannot be outraged today and forgotten tomorrow.” He continued: “We have to face down these criminal gangs. These are cowards, and what happened in Waterford has people’s hearts broken, and it should never, ever have happened.” Defence Minister Helen McEntee vowed to “engage” with the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan on whether more can be done to tackle the issue. Hundreds attended a vigil near the scene on Wednesday, where parish priest Gerry Chestnutt called on those responsible “to stand up, admit what you did and face the legal consequences”. Gardai continue to appeal for info or any dash-cam video from around the time of the attack. They said: “Contact the incident room at Waterford Garda Station on 051 305 300, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”