A couple who died this morning in a horror fire after their Waterford house was reportedly petrol-bombed have been named. Two children also perished in the fire while two more are fighting for their lives in hospital.
They have been named as Philip English and his partner Kim.
Gardaí confirmed that two adults (one male and one female) and two children are deceased.
“Two other children have been removed from the scene and are receiving hospital treatment for critical injuries,” they say.
A murder inquiry has now been launched by Gardaí in the aftermath of the horrific fire.
Local radio reported this morning that it was believed the house was petrol-bombed. It has been reported that a previous arson attack had recently been made on the family home where they had been wrongly targeted.
Gardai are currently carrying out door to door inquiries in the area.
The emergency services were called at around 5.13 am this morning alerting them to a fire at a house at Birch Avenue, Kilcohan located south of Waterford city.
Waterford Fire Service said that when fire crews rushed to the scene a “well-developed fire” had the house ablaze.
“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,” a spokesperson for the fire service explained.
Speaking on his way to the Cabinet meeting this morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it a “very worrying and deeply disturbing situation”.
He said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with anybody who has lost their lives and all who are affected.
“We thank the first responders who are at the scene.
“We say to everyone to give space to the first responders, to the gardaí to deal with what clearly is a very worrying and deeply disturbing situation.”
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane, who knows the family well, said he was devastated by the loss of life.
“People will know the family and there is absolute heartbreak when you have children involved as well, so it’s obviously very emotional,” he said.
“I knew the family very well. In fact I only met him very recently. So, I’m in shock myself still and my heart was broke.
“Obviously for the family, we don’t know the number of fatalities, but we do know it’s very high.”
WLR say that: “Two children, one of which is a teenager and one a young child are to be transferred to Crumlin Children’s Hospital from University Hospital Waterford for treatment of significant injuries.”
AGS say that they “are investigating all the circumstances of a fatal house fire that occurred in the Birchwood area of Waterford City shortly after 5am this morning, Tuesday, 13th October 2026.
“An incident room has been set up at Waterford Garda Station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed. Family liaison officers have also been appointed.
“An Garda Siochána are appealing for information from anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Birch Avenue, Birchwood, Waterford City in the early hours of Tuesday, 13th October to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
“As this is an ongoing evolving incident An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide any further detail at present.”