DUBLIN: Following the death of Seema Banu and her two children, all of Indian origin, in Dublin, her family appealed to the Irish Government to help bring the body home.
Seema Banu (37), and her children Asfira Riza (11), and Faizan Syed (6), were found dead at their home in Ballinteer last Wednesday. Seema and her family were natives of the karnataka state, India. They moved to Ireland in February, 2020.
Seema’s family said they could not believe it when they first heard that their loved ones had died, but later believed it when they saw it in the news.
Her cousin Sufi Masood told RTÉ news: Seema was one of eight siblings and she was the only member of the family who moved abroad. He appealed to the Irish government to help repatriate the three bodies so that they could see their loved ones one last time.
“We would be thankful for our lifetime if you could send our loved ones back to our family so we can see them one last time and do the last proceedings from our own hand. That would be really helpful,” Mr. Masood told RTE.
But the family said it would cost about €18,000 to repatriate the three bodies to their home in India and that they could not afford it. They are also requesting assistance from the Indian Embassy in Dublin.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador in Ireland Sandeep Kumar had assured Seema’s family that the embassy would extend all possible assistance in such a critical situation. Mr. Sandeep Kumar had visited the site on Thursday and paid tribute to the deceased family. He also spoke to Seema Banu’s family in India and consoled them.
Seema’s cousin said the whole family was shocked to hear the news and could not believe it had happened to them. Seema’s parents were distraught and had not eaten or slept since hearing the news, Mr. Masood said.