Birchwood Arson: Fifth Victim Elliot English (6) to Be Buried With Family

Waterford schools, sports clubs and community groups will provide guards of honour for the funeral of six-year-old Elliot English, who became the fifth victim of the fatal house fire at his family home in Birchwood, Waterford. The young boy, who had survived open-heart surgery as an infant only to succumb to critical burn and smoke inhalation injuries sustained in the alleged arson attack on October 13, will be buried alongside his parents and two brothers following requiem mass at the Sacred Heart Church in The Folly on Friday at 12 noon.

Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Elliot passed away last Friday at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin, Dublin, following a brave month-long battle for life. His funeral will take place at the same church where his parents, Kim (38) and Philip (58), and his older brothers Callum (12) and Jayden (9) had their funeral masses on October 19 amid tragic scenes as local clergy condemned the fatal attack as “an act of evil.”

The English family has asked mourners to wear bright colours in honour of Elliot, who adored cartoons and has been hailed by relatives for his cheerful, good-natured personality. The six-year-old will repose at Hennessy’s Funeral Home in Johnstown, Waterford, from 5pm to 6.30pm on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s funeral mass.

Elliot will be laid to rest beside his parents and siblings at Kilbarry Cemetery. The month’s mind mass for his parents and siblings will also be celebrated on Friday alongside Elliot’s requiem mass, uniting the family in tragedy and remembrance.

A 14-year-old girl, now the sole survivor of the horrific attack, remains at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin where her condition is understood to be serious but stable. She has been hailed as “a warrior princess” by relatives, with her older brother John James English posting a heartfelt message of solidarity on social media.

Writing on Facebook, he stated: “Princess warrior Nadia in my thoughts and prayers. Through the darkness and the pain. You will rise up to your name. Strongest little lady I know. I admire your strength and courage.” He added: “Only thing you need to do is rest and recovery get treated like a princess, you deserve it. Keep the good fight up your doing amazing.”

Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Elliot and his sister were rescued by firefighters from the blaze and initially taken to University Hospital Waterford before being transferred to the Dublin hospital for specialist treatment. In a profoundly moving act of sisterly devotion, the teenage girl asked to lie beside her little brother for his final moments, with a family friend revealing: “He died in his sister’s arms and now he’s back in his mother’s arms.”

In a statement, Elliot’s family appealed for time and space to deal with their heartbreaking loss. They said: “The family has endured an unimaginable loss, and this latest bereavement has left relatives, neighbours and friends facing an overwhelming period of grief. At this incredibly difficult time, the family respectfully asks members of the media to allow them, along with their neighbours and friends, the time, space and privacy to come to terms with this devastating tragedy.”

The family also requested that the teenage girl still undergoing medical treatment be “kept in everyone’s thoughts and prayers,” adding: “The English family would like to thank everyone who has shown kindness, compassion and support during what has been an incomprehensibly difficult time.”

An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal fire. A total of six people were arrested over a ten-day period in respect of the alleged arson attack. Two have been charged and appeared before a special sitting of Clonmel District Court on October 17. Jessica Dalton, aged 31, with an address in Waterford city, and Cian Stacey, aged 21, of no fixed abode, were remanded in ongoing custody.

Each defendant faces three charges, including a single charge of criminal damage on October 13 at an address in Waterford and two counts of Section 4 assaults causing serious harm contrary to the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. The individuals listed in the assault causing serious harm charges cannot be identified for legal reasons. Both accused are scheduled to appear before Waterford District Court again on November 17 via video link.

Four people arrested the following week – a man in his 50s, two women in their 30s and a man in his 20s – were subsequently released without charge. Gardaí are now preparing updated files for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Local representatives have expressed profound devastation at the young boy’s death. Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler told Daily Dazzling Dawn: “It’s devastating and heartbreaking that Elliot’s little gentle soul has passed. My thoughts are with his extended family who are still mourning the loss of his parents and brothers.”

The English home had been targeted by a paint attack two years ago and was also the focus of an arson attack last year. A second arson attack was directed against the property of another relative. Relatives have maintained that the English family were entirely innocent.

The community in Waterford continues to rally around the surviving teenager, leaving floral tributes at the scene of the tragedy. The sheer scale of the loss – a loving family of six now reduced to a single, grieving teenage girl – has left the nation struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy.