IRELAND: The first Irish fatality in the south-east Asia tsunami disaster was confirmed last night. The family of Ms Eilís Finnegan have said they plan to get her body home as soon as possible for burial in Ireland.
Ms Finnegan (27), from Ballyfermot in Dublin, was on holiday in the Thai island of Phi Phi with her boyfriend, Mr Barry Murphy, when the tsunami struck on December 26th. After a week of searching, it is believed Mr Murphy positively identified her body in nearby Krabi yesterday evening.
"We are looking to bring her home as quickly as possible," said the victim's brother, Mr Robert Finnegan, in Dublin last night. "There are technical things happening over there that are out of our control. But once all the tests are completed, we'll get her home.
"Barry (Murphy) is still over there. I think he and forensics officers over there identified her," he said.
In a family statement issued through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Finnegan family praised Mr Murphy for his "tireless efforts to re-unite Eilís with us".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, issued a statement expressing his "deep sadness at the Finnegan family's announcement of the positive identification of Eilís's remains in Krabi, Thailand".
"I want to extend, on my own behalf and that of the Government, my most sincere condolences to Eilís's family and to her boyfriend, Barry Murphy.
"This announcement brings an end to a terrible period of uncertainty and worry for the Finnegans and for Eilís's many close friends. As they come to terms with their tragic loss, I would appeal for them to be allowed to grieve in peace and in privacy," he said.
The Minister added that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish Embassy staff in Thailand would continue to extend all possible assistance to her family as they prepared to bring her body home.
Ms Finnegan and Mr Murphy had only just arrived on Phi Phi, off the west coast of Thailand, a few minutes before the tsunami hit on St Stephen's Day and were eating their breakfast when it happened.
It was reported that as they were running away from the waves, Mr Murphy stopped to help a small boy and, in the confusion, was separated from Ms Finnegan.
The couple had met while working together for United Airlines in Clontarf and had been going out since September of last year. They had initially intended to travel to Argentina for their Christmas holiday but had to look for an alternative when they were unable to get flights.