Families to bring Irish victims home from Tunisia

The remains of the Irish victims of the attack in Tunisia will be brought home within days after they were formally identified yesterday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the assistance of the gardaí had expedited the process and that the Hayes and Carty families were now being helped by the Irish ambassador to Spain, David Cooney, and other consular staff who had travelled to Tunisia, to organise the journey home.

“They are currently assisting the families in finalising the repatriation arrangements of their loved ones to Ireland. We expect that to take place in the coming days,” the department said.

Lorna Carty, 54, from Navan, Co Meath, and Larry, 56, and Martina, 55, Hayes from Athlone, Co Westmeath, were among 38 people murdered when at least one gunman opened fire on holidaymakers in the beach resort of Sousse last Friday.

Their devastated families had to wait for the lengthy formal identification process to be completed by Tunisian authorities before their remains were released to them.

Relatives had flown out to support mother-of-three Lorna’s husband, Declan, who escaped injury in the attack, and the Hayes’ only daughter, Sinead.

Their plight has touched thousands of people who signed books of condolence in memory of the three at civic offices in Navan and Athlone yesterday, and on an online book opened by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organsiation, of which Ms Carty was an active member.

In Athlone, hundreds of people had turned out by midday to pay their respects to Larry, known to many as Lonnie, and Martina (née Kelly), who were both from well-known local families.

The couple, who lived at the West Lodge estate in the town, were about to enjoy a last lunch before preparing to travel to the airport at the end of their holiday in the resort of Sousse when they were caught up in the attack.

Athlone Municipal District of Westmeath County Council formally expressed its sincere sympathy to the Hayes and Kelly families and said that the book of condolence would remain open until this afternoon to facilitate the large numbers who wish to add their messages of sympathy.

Mayor of Athlone Municipal District, Tom Farrell, offered his condolences on behalf of the people of the Midlands town.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the Hayes and Kelly families and especially to their daughter Sinead, on the tragic deaths of Larry and Martina,” he said. “They were a very well-known family, very popular, and a very well-liked family and they were very much part of the community.”

Athlone Independent councillor Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said he hoped the book of condolences would help the Hayes and Kelly families to realise the extent of the support for them at such a tragic time.

“Everybody in the town of Athone knew Larry and the same with the Kelly family… it’s at this time that the family needs the support most,” said Mr Moran.