Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 2

Written Answers. - Irish Fatalities Abroad.

Liam Aylward

Question:

57 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the embassy in New Delhi has received a reply from the police in Chennai to its letter dated 29 March 1999 requesting a full report on the murder on 31 December 1997 of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Madras, Chennai, India; if the victim's passport which was stolen at the time has been cancelled; the position in relation to his property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16685/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The report requested by the embassy was received from the police in Chennai, Madras, on 22 June 1999 and the Department of Foreign Affairs has sent a copy of it to the brother of the deceased. The case is still under investigation.

When the passport of the deceased was reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs as having been stolen, details were immediately put in the passport stoplist to prevent anybody else using it in connection with an application for another passport. The stolen passport has not yet been found.

Items of personal property found in the hotel room of the deceased are being held by the police in the event of somebody being charged with the murder. The Embassy is seeking an explanation of why a list of those items in the police report does not include three items in a list conveyed orally in January 1998.

The embassy is satisfied that the police investigation is being properly conducted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, which is frequently in contact with the brother of the deceased, will continue to monitor developments and to give every appropriate assistance.