A man in his 20s, arrested in connection with a fatal fire in the Birchwood area of Waterford that resulted in four deaths, has been released without charge. The October 13 blaze claimed the lives of Kim and Phillip English and their sons, Callum and Jayden. Gardaí are treating the deaths as murder, and two other children sustained critical injuries in the incident.
The released individual marks the sixth person to have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation. Following his release, Gardaí are preparing a file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This process indicates that while charges have not been brought against him at this stage, his involvement remains under review by the legal system.
This development follows similar actions last week, when a man in his 50s and two women in their 30s were arrested by Gardaí and subsequently released without charge over the weekend. Files are also being prepared for the DPP concerning these three individuals. The preparation of these files is a standard procedure in such investigations, allowing the DPP to assess the evidence and determine if charges are warranted.
Earlier this month, two individuals appeared in court in connection with the incident. Jessica Dalton, 31, who has an address in Waterford city, and Cian Stacey, 21, listed as having no fixed abode, faced charges. Both were charged with one count of criminal damage and two counts of assault causing serious harm. Following their court appearance, Ms. Dalton and Mr. Stacey were remanded into custody. The specific details of the 'attack' to which these charges relate have not been further elaborated.
The fire, which occurred on October 13, led to the tragic loss of four family members. The decision by Gardaí to treat the deaths as murder suggests a deliberate act as the cause of the fatal blaze. The sequence of arrests, releases, and formal charges against two individuals highlights the complexities of the investigation as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident in Waterford. The continued preparation of files for the Director of Public Prosecutions indicates that even for those released without immediate charge, their cases remain under active consideration for potential legal action. The legal process proceeds, with some individuals remanded into custody and others awaiting further decisions from the DPP regarding potential charges.