Irish police open murder investigation after four killed in ‘deeply disturbing’ Waterford arson attack

Police in Ireland have begun a murder investigation into an arson attack at a house in Waterford City, which led to the deaths of a man, a woman and two children. Emergency crews were called to the property in the Birchwood area of the city shortly after 5am on Tuesday morning.“An Garda Síochána have commenced a murder investigation into the arson attack and fatal house fire that occurred in the Birchwood area of Waterford City shortly after 5am this morning, Tuesday, 13th October 2026,” a spokesperson said.“An Garda Síochána have confirmed that two adults (one male and one female) and two of their children are deceased.Two other children had been removed from the scene and were receiving treatment in hospital for critical injuries, they said.An Garda Siochána are appealing to any person with any information on this multiple murder and arson attack to contact the Garda investigation team. (PA)An incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station, where a senior investigating officer and family liaison officers have been assigned to the case. “An Garda Siochána are appealing to any person with any information on this multiple murder and arson attack to contact the Garda investigation team.“An Garda Síochána is also appealing to any person 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.”‘Tragic loss of lives’Tributes have been paid by Minister of State John Cummins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.Mr Martin described the tragedy as a "deeply disturbing situation" as details surrounding the incident continue to unfold.Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting in Dublin, 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.” Emergency crews were called to the property in the Birchwood area of the city shortly after 5am on Tuesday morning. (PA)“Waterford has been plunged into utter devastation and sadness this morning with the tragic loss of lives overnight in Birchwood,” Mr Cummins said.“My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, their friends, neighbours and the wider community.“I would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services personnel who have been attending what can only be described as a horrific scene.”The Waterford minister called for gardaí to be given time and space to carry out their investigations.“I know that in the difficult days and weeks ahead, the community will rally around those affected, offering strength, compassion and support in whatever way we can,” he added.“At times of unimaginable sadness, it is the kindness and solidarity of a close-knit community that can provide some comfort to those who need it most.“This is a devastating loss and as a county we stand together in grief and solidarity at this difficult time.”Minister calls for JusticeIreland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has said the murder of four people following an arson attack on a house in Waterford has had a “very significant impact” on the whole country.“I strongly condemn the harrowing attack in Waterford early this morning which has resulted in the loss of four lives including two children,” he said. Emergency services at the scene of an overnight fire in the Birchwood estate in Waterford City. (PA Wire)“I want to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the bereaved. My thoughts are also with the two young children in hospital.”This “shocking” event had a significant impact on the whole country, he said.“There is no place in a civilised society for such a heinous act of violence.“I have spoken with the Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who has assured me that a murder investigation, supported by the National Bureau for Criminal Investigation, is under way.“I am confident those responsible for this brutal and heinous act will be brought to justice to face the full rigour of the law.He joined An Garda Síochána in appealing to anyone with information to come forward.‘Devastated and heartbroken’Mayor of Waterford Liam Brazil and the mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District Lola O’Sullivan have also issued a joint statement expressing heartbreak at the loss of lives in the fire.“We are devastated and heartbroken by the tragedy that unfolded in Birch Avenue this morning,” they said.“Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of those who lost their lives so tragically in the fatal house fire.“No one is untouched by this event, and we would appeal to neighbours, friends and the wider community to be there for each other during this harrowing time. Bishop Alphonsus Cullinane of Waterford and Lismore expressed his “profound shock and sorrow”. (PA)“Our thoughts are also with the emergency services and first responders who attended the deeply disturbing scene.Anyone who had been affected should visit the Community Support Hub in St John’s Park, they said.“Professional services, refreshments, and facilities are available to all.”‘We pray for them’Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore said the two children who died in the house fire on Tuesday morning should be at school on this “beautiful day in the sunshine”.“They should be running around the yard there now, and yet they’re dead, and two more then in hospital,” he said.“We pray for them – and amazing to see the community around here gathering and supporting and comforting each other.“We just hope that we’ll gather tomorrow. We’ll pray together and see if we can make some sense out of all of this. And God rest all those who have died and all those who’ve been affected by this huge tragedy. Huge tragedy.”The community would attempt to deal with the tragedy with “great difficulty”, he said.“Really, just trying to get by day by day, and I suppose support each other, be there for each other, comfort each other, and to pray together and try to see that God is in every situation with time and with God’s help, they will be able to get through,” he continued.In a statement, Waterford Fire Service said it was alerted to a house fire at Birchwood Avenue at 5.13am on Tuesday.“A number of units from surrounding stations attended and on arrival found a well-developed fire,” it said.“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.Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, David Cullinane speaking at the scene of an overnight fire in the Birchwood estate in Waterford City. (PA)“Waterford City and County Council has commissioned the Butler Community Centre in St John’s Park in Waterford city (X91 FEP4) as a Support Hub.“Professional supports, refreshments, and facilities are available for those who have been affected by the fire in the Birchwood area.”‘We will be here for you’Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane said: “This is very raw for everybody involved.”“My heart is broken.“I can only imagine what this will be for family members, for the wider family who live right across the road, for the city and county, and for people who live in the housing estate to be dealing with this level of grief and trauma.“It’s just unimaginable, and all we can do at this point in time is to stand in solidarity with the community to support the wider family and this community as much as we can.”They were seeing the community come together already, he said.“My message for this community is that we will be here for you.“That we understand that this is an unimaginable tragedy, and people may well need to be supported and I’m very clear that that will be put in place.”Fianna Fáil Councillor, Jason Murphy from Waterford speaking at the scene of an overnight fire in the Birchwood estate in Waterford City. (PA)Councillor Jason Murphy, who lives close to the scene of the fire, said there was a sense of “devastation” in the community.“I’m just numb, like everyone else around here,” the Fianna Fáil councillor told the Press Association.“I think there’s an eerie quiet around here. This estate would usually be a busy estate. You’d probably see kids up here playing on the green here, but there’s nothing happening here this morning – only people looking into space trying to, I suppose, make sense of what happened here late last night and early this morning.”Murphy said local people who witnessed the fire would require professional support and counselling. “The sounds and what they heard this morning and what they seen, it’ll take a lot of recovering, and they’ll need a lot of support,” he said.“It’s coming now from the community, and that’ll be ongoing. But they’ll need professional support as well. And I was glad to see that the Taoiseach came out this morning, Micheál Martin said the community will get whatever supports it needs.”‘Day of immense sadness’Father Gerard Chestnutt, who is parish priest at Sacred Heart Church at The Folly in Waterford, said it was a “day of immense sadness”.“People are devastated, in particular here in the Birchwood estate, because the family are well known,” he told reporters at the scene of the fire.“The community is well established, it’s a very tight knit community. As you can see, there’s many people out on the street here, and they’re all absolutely heartbroken.Parish priest at Sacred Heart Church , Father Gerard Chestnutt, said it was a “day of immense sadness”. (PA)“But it goes beyond here as well. The wider community is absolutely devastated. Our school communities, the primary schools are absolutely heartbroken, both the staff and students.“And I would know the family very well. It’s a day of immense sadness for this entire community.”“There’s no words even that people can find to try to grasp or try to understand what’s happened,” he added.