Melbourne House of Horrors: Man Accused of Leaving Three Toddler Girls to Die in Blaze Freed on Bail
- Matthew Mcauliffe, 24, allegedly heard the screams of the children but didn’t call triple zero
- Two girls, aged one and five, died in the fire, while a third toddler suffered serious injuries
- Mcauliffe has a lengthy criminal history, with 32 prior convictions and 101 warrants
In a shocking turn of events, Matthew Mcauliffe, the man accused of leaving three toddler girls to die in a Melbourne house fire, has been freed on bail. The 24-year-old allegedly heard the screams of the children but failed to call triple zero, instead choosing to flee the scene.
The devastating incident occurred in September 2024, when a fire engulfed the Sydenham home, where Mcauliffe and his partner, Shania Lee, had left the three girls, aged under five, unattended. Neighbours reported hearing explosions as the fire raged on, and authorities later found that the children had suffered horrific injuries.
In a heartbreaking development, the court heard that Mcauliffe and Lee had been watching footage of the children on Lee’s mobile phone, hearing their screams, but failed to take any action. This comes as police allege that Mcauliffe has a lengthy criminal history, with 32 prior convictions and 101 warrants, including 23 prior convictions for committing offences while on bail.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, Magistrate Phillip Goldberg decided to release Mcauliffe on bail, citing that he could impose “very restrictive” conditions to reduce his risk. Mcauliffe will be required to reside with his mother in Maryborough, more than two hours’ drive from Melbourne, and will be subject to a curfew. He will also be prohibited from leaving Victoria or Australia.
Defence barrister Sai Ranjit argued that his client would stay at his mother’s home, where he would be under close supervision. Ranjit also pointed to weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, noting that they had yet to prove how the fire was started and accusing Mcauliffe of negligent child homicide for leaving the children home unattended.
In a further twist, police allege that Mcauliffe and Lee had discussed the footage on prison phone calls, but did not call triple zero. Detective Senior Constable Chris Mitchell said they were applying for material from US-based Apple to get information on the apps Lee opened on her phone, to corroborate what was said in the calls.
The case has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for justice for the three young victims. The next hearing in the matter is set for January 15, 2026.