A Waterford Teachta Dála has said there is “anger and fury” in the county, following the deaths of four members of the English family.
Yesterday morning, the family home was set alight and Kim and Philip English were killed, along with their two sons, Callum and Jayden. Two other children remain in hospital in a serious condition.
Speaking to RTÉ, Mr English’s son, John James, said his family had been terrorised by drug dealers for years.
He said that despite the attacks, the family were innocent of wrongdoing and were being harassed over someone else’s drug debt.
On The Claire Byrne Show, Waterford TD David Cullinane said he has recently been in touch with the English family to discuss Sinn Féin’s health policy.
He was completely unaware of the intimidation they were suffering.
“That trauma is still very real, as you can imagine, in Waterford, but there's also anger,” he said.
“People are furious and we just have to call it straight that those four individuals were murdered in a deliberate attack on their home
“Two children, Nadia and Elliot, are fighting for their lives in hospital and we can't soften the horror of what happened.”
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Deputy Cullinane continued that those who carried out the attack showed “utter contempt for human life” and called for them to be prosecuted.
“There's nothing normal, nothing acceptable about criminals threatening families, targeting their homes and using violence to chase money,” he said.
“I've heard some of the commentary over the last 48 hours of this being a ‘debt collection’.
“This wasn't debt collection; this is criminality, it's terrorising people and making them afraid to sleep in their own beds.”
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Yesterday, hundreds gathered at a vigil in Waterford City, where prayers were said for the English family and balloons were released in their honour.
However, while there is solidarity, Deputy Cullinane said locals feel “anger and fury” about what happened to the family.
“I know that this is a tragedy in Waterford,” he said.
“But this intimidation is happening in other parts of the country and there are people going through similar circumstances.
“That's why it's really important that every resource is given to An Garda Síochána to pursue those responsible.”
The English family felt under threat for some time and had asked the County Council to relocate them.
Typically, local authorities do not transfer people because of antisocial behaviour but Deputy Cullinane said officials must use their “discretion” in the future.
Gardaí have opened up a murder investigation and have urged anyone with any information to contact them.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the family's funeral costs can do so here.
Main image: Kim and Philip English. Picture by: GoFundMe.
