Ireland’s political leaders are united in horror at what President Catherine Connolly described as the “appalling attack” in Waterford that led to the deaths of Kim and Philip English and two of their children, Callum (12) and Jayden (9).
In Leinster House, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the “thoughts and prayers of everybody in this Dáil and across Government are with the family, the wider community in Waterford and also with the first responders”.
Earlier, as news of the incident was breaking, Martin said it was a “very worrying and deeply disturbing situation”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “This community needs every support possible. We stand with them at this desperate, desperate time.”
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Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan condemned the arson attack and said “there is no place in a civilised society for such a heinous act of violence”.
In today’s lead story Conor Lally, Barry Roche and Hugh Dooley write that gardaí believe the murders of members of the English family in a petrol-bombing attack on their home is linked to recent violence they were subjected to by a local drugs gang.
Two other children were rescued from the burning house but were in critical condition in Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin on Tuesday. They were described locally as “a lovely family”.
The Irish Times understands the English family was hoping to leave the property as part of a council transfer because they felt unsafe.
Gardaí carried out searches in the Waterford area on Tuesday night and it is understood they have identified a number of suspects in the murder investigation.
Though the investigation is at an early stage, gardaí suspect Philip English had taken on a drug debt incurred by an associate in an effort to keep him safe. However, gardaí strongly suspect the local crime gang that was owed money targeted the family on Tuesday morning and was also behind another attack last month.
Roche reports from the scene that neighbours were awoken just after 5am to the smell of smoke and immediately alerted the emergency services, running to the house to try to help.
Our Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally writes about how the deaths in Waterford have brought into focus an increase in drug-related intimidation, often in the form of petrol bombings, in recent years.
300,000 public sector workers strike
The first wide-scale strike by public sector workers in 17 years is happening today, with schools, hospitals, local authority services and even proceedings in Leinster House all affected.
It comes amid a row over how to approach talks aimed at achieving a new public sector pay deal after the last one expired at the end of June.
As Emmet Malone and Pat Leahy report, Fórsa union leader Kevin Callinan has suggested the Taoiseach should intervene to get a talks process started if further strikes and disruption are to be prevented.
He was speaking after the union side rebuffed late efforts by Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and the Government side to engage and prevent today’s strike.
Callinan was responding to a suggestion by Chambers that although the Government wanted talks to begin at the Workplace Relations Commission on Tuesday, he would consider other ways to achieve progress if that could not be done.
The Government is likely to make a push to bring the unions into a talks process after the stoppage as it seeks to avoid further strikes scheduled for next week.
In his Dáil sketch, Frank McNally writes that Martin’s feathers were ruffled by claims he was “playing chicken” with striking workers.
Best Reads
Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan was hospitalised on Tuesday after being taken ill at a European Union presidency event in Limerick. Jack Horgan-Jones reports.
Former minister and European commissioner Phil Hogan has formally launched his bid to become the next director general of the UN’s food agency, saying he is ready “to serve once again”.
On the Opinion pages, Kathy Sheridan writes that she has paid her TV licence but RTÉ is testing her patience.
The actions of the Ireland players in the two Nations League were described as “shameful” by the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at an event in Dublin on Tuesday. Jonathan Greenblatt spoke on behalf of the J7, a coalition of advocacy groups in countries with large Jewish communities. Katie Mellett reports.
Playbook
There are no proceedings in the Dáil, Seanad or committee rooms today as staff in Leinster House join other public sector workers in strike action. We will keep you updated on events with a live blog today. Follow the action here.
Elsewhere, Taoiseach Micheál Martin will deliver the opening address to the International AI Summit being held in Dublin as part of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. Attendees will hear from various European commissioners, ministers and representatives of artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic as well as tech giants Google and Microsoft.
Panels include one entitled The European AI Advantage: Leadership, Innovation and Global Competitiveness and another on AI Transforming Health: From Discovery to Patient Care.
