Ahern gives assurance over Irish missing in Asia

Thai authorities are doing everything in their power to discover the fate of the three Irish people caught up in the Asian tsunamis, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern claimed today.

The minister, who is on a tour of the stricken Indian ocean region, said he had been given assurances by officials in Thailand that bodies would be quickly repatriated if identified.

Mr Ahern met relatives of missing Co Tyrone man Conor Keightley in Krabi, Thailand. Lucy Coyle from Killiney and Michael Murphy from Co Wexford are also missing in the area since the St Stephen’s Day disaster.

“We met local Thai government officials who have assured us that every effort in finding the missing Irish will continue,” Mr Ahern said.

Eilis Finnegan, the only confirmed Irish victim of the disaster, has already been identified and her remains have been flown back to Ireland.

Mr Ahern was due to visit some of the worst affected areas of Indonesia later today, and will then fly on to Sri Lanka.

The minister thanked authorities for helping to whittle down the number of Irish people missing in the wake of the tragedy.

Mr Ahern also announced plans to leave a “long term footprint” in Phuket to help communities deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

He said he was discussing the idea of an honorary consular post with leaders of the four aid agencies accompanying him on the trip, the Irish Red Cross, Trocaire, Concern and Goal.

“We would like to put in place a project here that would look after some of the victims of this awful disaster,” he added.

Mr Keightley’s uncle, Damian Coyle, thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs and officials in Thailand for their help.

“They held our hands and our hearts in what has been a difficult time for the family,” Mr Coyle said.