Leading aid worker dies in Sri Lanka

Foreign Affairs Minster Dermot Ahern tonight paid tribute to one of the country’s leading aid workers who died in Sri Lanka.

Conor Lyons was the first person to be deployed from the Rapid Response Corps.

The 55-year-old from Thurles, Co Tipperary, passed away in Colombo from natural causes.

Mr Ahern offered his sympathies to Mr Lyons’ family.

“It was with very great sadness that I learned of the sudden death this morning of Conor,” said Mr Ahern.

“I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, daughter and son, and to his extended family.

“They have lost a loving husband and father, we have lost a humanitarian pioneer and a selfless and dedicated worker for those living on the margins of the world.”

Mr Ahern was speaking following a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.

They discussed the work of the north’s Consultative Group on the Past led by Lord Eames and former Policing Board deputy chairman Denis Bradley set up to deal with the legacy of the troubles.

Mr Woodward said he expected the pair to report back in ten months.

Aid worker Mr Lyons was deployed on September 3 to work with the UN World Food Programme for the next three months.

A seasoned overseas volunteer, he previously assisted Goal in Sri Lanka, as well as with other UN agencies in Liberia, Kosovo and East Timor.

Mr Ahern said he had met Mr Lyons shortly before his departure and was struck by his enthusiasm and energy.

“He was very excited about his deployment as a Logistics Officer with the UN World Food Programme (WFP),” continued Mr Ahern.

“He was assisting the WFP in co-ordinating all relief supplies for Sri Lanka - a daunting task in a complex operation and difficult environment where over 600,000 people are in need of humanitarian support because of the on-going conflict in that country.”

The Rapid Response Corps is a key part of Irish Aid’s response to humanitarian emergencies and one element of the wider Rapid Response Initiative.

It is designed to improve Ireland’s ability to respond to global humanitarian crises by providing essential expertise which is critical to the international response.