'A day of immense sadness' - Bishop Cullinan and Fr. Chestnutt speak on Waterford tragedy
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan at Birchwood estate on Tuesday.
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan has shared his shock and horror after the tragic arson attack that claimed the lives of two children and two adults in a Waterford City estate.
Gardaí are launching a murder investigation into the arson attack on a home in Birchwood estate. The fire began shortly after 5am this morning (Tuesday, October 13). Two children are currently in hospital with critical injuries.
The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore arrived to the Birchwood estate earlier today to show support for the local community and to share his sorrow.
He said: "This is devastating for everybody. The little lives lost, kids who should've been going to school today together.
"It's a huge tragedy, you can see the reaction from the local people here in the area. Several of them who made heroic efforts to try and get into the house and see what they could do but they were beaten away by the flames."
Bishop Cullinan praised the volunteers who have set up a support hub at Butlerstown Community Centre and called on the community to gather together in the wake of this tragedy.
He said: "We hope to gather people in the church tomorrow for a prayer service, I think people will come to comfort one another and to pray for those who died and the healing for the two kids in hospital."
Fr Gerry Chestnutt knew the family and shared his deep sadness and shock over the attack. He said that the community as a whole are "devastated".
"The family are well known, the community is well established, it's a very tight-knit community.
"As you can see, there's many people on this street here and they're absolutely devastated. The wider community is absolutely devastated. Our school communities, the primary schools, are absolutely heartbroken, both staff and students. And I would know the family very well, and I just feel this is a day of immense sadness."
Fr. Chestnutt has celebrated baptisms, first Communions, and weddings with members of the family.
Bishop Cullinan said: "Fr. Gerry would have baptised the kids, he knew the family and Fr. Gerry is just hugely upset and like us all, lost for words."
