Gardaí have launched a murder investigation after an arson attack on a house in Waterford City claimed the lives of two adults and two children.
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attack → launch → adults
The deaths of the man and woman and two of their children were confirmed on Tuesday morning.
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deaths → confirm → morning
Two other children were critically injured in the blaze.
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children → injure → blaze
Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit has made a public appeal for information.
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Pettit → make → information
He said: “An Garda Síochána has commenced a murder investigation into the arson attack and fatal house fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Birch Avenue, Birchwood, Waterford City, this morning.
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that → say → Avenue
“Emergency services, including Waterford Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service and gardaí responded to the fire shortly after 5am.
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services → include → am
“Two adults (a male and a female) and two of their children died in the fire.”
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adults → die → fire
Superintendent Pettit said that two other children have been admitted to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Crumlin where they are receiving treatment for critical injuries.
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they → say → injuries
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of all members of An Garda Síochána and the community are with the extended family at this time,” he added.
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he → add → time
The senior officer said the house in Birch Avenue has been declared a crime scene.
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house → say → Avenue
He added: “An Garda Síochána believe that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown and that the fire was started deliberately.
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fire → add → person
“Gardaí in Waterford are appealing to any person who has information on this multiple murder and arson attack to speak with investigating members.
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who → appeal → members
“In particular, gardaí wish to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Birch Avenue, Birchwood, between 4.30am and 5.30am this morning.
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who → wish → 4.30am
“Gardaí are also appealing to anyone who was driving in the vicinity of Birchwood, or the adjoining roads, between 4.30am and 5.30am this morning who may have dashcam footage or images to make such footage available.”
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footage → appeal → footage
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said the incident has had a “very significant impact” on people across the country.
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incident → say → country
He said: “I strongly condemn the harrowing attack in Waterford early this morning which has resulted in the loss of four lives including two children.
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which → say → children
“I want to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the bereaved.
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I → want → bereaved
“This shocking event has had a very significant impact not just on the people of Waterford but on the whole country.
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event → have → country
“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.
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investigation → speak → 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.”
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those → bring → law
Taoiseach Micheál Martin paid tribute to those who died, describing the fire as “deeply disturbing”.
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who → pay → fire
He said his thoughts and prayers are with those who died.
“We thank the first responders who are at the scene,” Mr Martin added.
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Martin → say → 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.”
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what → say → gardaí
Minister of State John Cummins, who is from Waterford, said: “Waterford has been plunged into utter devastation and sadness this morning with the tragic loss of lives overnight in Birchwood.
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Waterford → say → Birchwood
“My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, their friends, neighbours and the wider community.
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who → go → lives
“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.”
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what → like → scene
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore said the two children who died should be at school on this “beautiful day in the sunshine”.
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who → say → sunshine
“They should be running around the yard there now, and yet they’re dead, and two more then in hospital,” he told the Press Association.
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he → run → Association
“We pray for them – and amazing to see the community around here gathering and supporting and comforting each other.
“
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community → pray → other
We just hope that we’ll gather tomorrow.
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we → hope → ?
We’ll pray together and see if we can make some sense out of all of this.
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we → pray → this
And God rest all those who have died and all those who’ve been affected by this huge tragedy.
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who → rest → tragedy
He said the community will attempt to deal with the tragedy with “great difficulty”.
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community → say → difficulty
“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.
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he → try → help
Father Gerard Chestnutt, who is parish priest at Sacred Heart Church at The Folly in Waterford, said it was a “day of immense sadness”.
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it → say → 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.
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it → devastate → fire
As you can see, there’s many people out on the street here, and they’re all absolutely heartbroken.
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they → see → street
“But it goes beyond here as well.
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it → go → ?
The wider community is absolutely devastated.
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community → devastate → ?
“And I would know the family very well.
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I → know → family
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
