Two teenagers arrested over Limerick arson attack

Two male teenagers have been arrested this evening by gardai investigating an arson attack on a car in Limerick in which two children who were badly burned.

Philomena Murphy (6)

In a statement tonight gardai said the two were arrested in Limerick city and being questioned in Mayorstone Garda Station under Section 30 Offences against the State Act, 1939.

Philomena (Millie) Murphy (6) and her brother, Gavin (4), are believed to have undergone surgery today at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, where their condition is said to be critical but stable. They were burned in fire in a car outside a house in Pineview Gardens, Moyross, on Sunday.

Their mother, Sheila Murray (35), was inside the house visiting a friend when a flammable liquid was poured into the car and ignited.

Philomena suffered serious burns to her head and body. Gavin lost an ear and was said to have been so badly burned that the seat cover melted into the skin on his back.

Their father, Niall McNamara (35), a lorry driver from East Singland Road, Garryowen, claimed the fire was deliberate.

It is understood Ms Murray, a mother of eight, had refused to give a man a lift who approached her Toyota Corolla as she pulled up outside the house.

Mr McNamara, who is separated from Ms Murray, said his children were lucky to be alive after their ordeal.

"(Millie) is still in a state of shock, she is in so much pain," he said. "(Gavin) has been asleep since it happened. They don't know what pain he is going through or what reactions he has.

"All she remembers is getting into the car and when their mother got into the passenger seat a big flame came through the back seat of the car," he said.

"Their mother came around to open the door of the car - there were child locks on it so she had to get back out of the car and open the door and pull out the child.

"A 14-year-old child ran to other door and pulled out Gavin. Gavin would be dead only for the young fella. He was so seriously burnt he would have been burnt to death," Mr McNamara told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

He insisted those who carried out the attack knew the two children were in the car at the time. "They wound down the windows of the car. They threw the petrol in the car.

"When the mother walked around the driver seat of the car and put the key in the ignition,they lit a firelighter and threw it in the back seat between the kids," Mr McNamara said.

Gardaí who have refused to speculate on a motive for the attack, have set up an incident room at Mayorstone Garda station. The burnt-out car is being forensically examined.

The incident follows a weekend of violence in Pineview area of the sprawling Moyross estate in Limerick in which gangs of youths clashed, and a number of petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at gardaí.