Gardaí expect more arrests as net closes on Traveller drug gang behind Waterford petrol bomb murder of family of four

A house on Birchwood Avenue in Waterford City, where a suspected petrol bomb attack in the early hours of Tuesday killed a man, a woman and two of their children.

Irish police commissioner Justin Kelly said on Friday that further arrests are imminent after two people were detained over the petrol bomb murders of Philip and Kim English and their sons Callum, 12, and Jayden, nine, in Waterford earlier this week. The chief suspect, a man in his 20s recently released from prison for burglary, is believed to have been hired by a three-brother-led Traveller gang to carry out the attack over a €20,000 drug debt incurred by somebody else. Seven homes have been searched and CCTV of the getaway vehicle has been secured.

Philip's adult son John James English told RTÉ: 'Twenty grand worth of a debt — is that worth four lives?'

Two surviving children, Nadia, 14, and six-year-old Elliot, remain in a critical condition at Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin.

The suspect, described as a 'hired hand for several gangs', had attacked the family before — a petrol bombing struck the same home last month.

The IndependentMore arrests expected in murder investigation into Waterford fire that killed two children and parents Daily MailArson attack supsect that killed family 'recently released from jail'Irish TimesNet closing on gang that murdered family in Waterford, says Garda Commissioner thenewshound.com14 years on, police are still hunting killer behind house fire that wiped out a mother and her five children in one night Irish IndependentSuspected female getaway driver in Waterford arson murder may have used own car, gardaí believe Irish TimesWaterford family ‘murdered by gang in arson attack over €20,000 drug debt’, son says

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