A Limerick father said yesterday that two of his children would have burned to death if it had not been for the swift action of neighbours who helped pull his children from a burning car following a random arson attack.
Niall McNamara (35), of East Singland Road, Garryowen, was speaking after an unprovoked arson attack in daylight on Sunday in which two of his children narrowly escaped with their lives.
Mr McNamara's six-year-old daughter, Millie (Philomena), was in a critical but stable condition yesterday at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Crumlin, Dublin.
His four-year-old son, Gavin, who lost an ear in the fire, was said to be in a critical condition, and was also transferred yesterday afternoon to the Crumlin hospital.
Both children are due to undergo emergency surgery today for severe burns.
Gardaí in Limerick said yesterday they were appealing to the "good sense and common decency" of local people to come forward with information on the incident.
The events unfolded as the car was outside a house in Pineview Gardens, Moyross, where their mother, Sheila Murray (35), had gone to visit a friend on Sunday afternoon.
Ms Murray lives around the corner in the same estate, but she had parked her car outside the friend's house at around 2pm on Sunday.
It is understood the mother of eight had moments earlier refused to give a man a lift who approached her car as she pulled up outside her friend's house.
When she came out of her friend's house and got into the car with her children, it went up in flames in a matter of seconds, according to Mr McNamara.
Exact details of the arson attack were unclear yesterday.
However one theory suggests that the car was doused in petrol while Ms Murray was visiting her friend, and that the culprit then threw a lighting flame or firelighter into the vehicle.
Local people have suggested that the arsonist may have been the same person to whom Ms Murray had refused to give a lift just a few minutes earlier.
Mr McNamara said neighbours in Moyross ran from their houses to help Millie and Gavin's mother pull the children from the burning Toyota Corolla, which was extensively damaged in the attack.
"I have no doubt that if my children had been wearing seat belts that they could have been killed because the car went up in flames in a matter of seconds.
"The children were barely pulled out of the car by their mother and neighbours before it was covered in flames."
Mr McNamara travelled to Dublin yesterday evening behind the ambulance which was transporting Gavin to Crumlin.
Gardaí in Limerick declined to speculate yesterday on the cause of the blaze, but it is understood that an arson attack is one of their lines of investigation.
Insp Anne-Marie McMahon said an incident room had been established at Mayorstone Garda station, and she appealed for witnesses to come forward.
"The scene was preserved and the car is being technically examined by a team from the technical bureau.
"At this stage we are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and help gardaí with their inquiries," said Insp McMahon.
The incident room at Mayorstone Garda station can be contacted on 061 456 989.