242 Irish people died abroad so far this year

A TOTAL of 242 Irish people died in tragic circumstances while away for holidays or work so far in 2009 – the highest number of deaths abroad ever recorded by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Among the Irish citizens who lost their lives while travelling were three young doctors who were killed when an Air France plane crashed over the Southern Atlantic in June; Fr Jeremiah Roche who was murdered in Kenya and buried yesterday and Michael Dwyer, who was shot dead in Bolivia in April.

The majority of the 242 deaths abroad were from natural causes or accidents such as drowning. They represent a sharp increase from 204 in 2008 and 150 in 2007.