[ad_1]
Relatives of the woman and two children found dead in a home in Dublin have not “slept or eaten” since learning of her loss.
Sufi Masood, Seema Banu’s cousin, told RTÉ News that the family had last spoken to Seema last Thursday.
Speaking to RTÉ News from his home in the Mysore region of southern India, and translating on behalf of Seema’s father, Abdul Ghaffar, and his mother, Qurishid-un-nisa, his cousin also said that the family did not he could believe it was real when they were told that three members of his family had been found dead.
They said they felt like they were in a dream zone or that it could have been a joke, and they didn’t believe it had happened until they saw it on the news.
The family described Seema Banu as the “pillar and heart” of their family, saying that Asfira and Faizan were lovely children and proud students, who used to share the work they had done at school with their family in India.
Sufi Masood described how Seema’s parents have not slept or eaten since they heard the news, and how her mother cries whenever she sees things that remind her of Seema and the children.
He said Seema, who was one of eight children, made most of the decisions for the family and took great care of everyone.
During the last video call they had with her last week, she had taken the time to speak with various members of the family.
They described the small remote village in Mysore in southern India where they are from, and said that Seema was the only person in their extended family, which is made up of about 100 households, to move abroad. They said they missed her and the children very much.
They said Seema and the children had moved to Ireland in February this year due to her husband’s work, after living for some time in Dubai.
The family has appealed to the Irish government and the Indian embassy in Ireland to help repatriate the bodies of Seema and her two children, so they can get a last “look” at them.
In a statement tonight, the Indian embassy said it would continue to offer support to the family on all issues and was confident that their concerns will be resolved.
Previously, the family said they had been told that returning the bodies to India could cost 18,000 euros. They couldn’t afford this and felt powerless.
“We would be grateful for our lives if you could send our loved ones back to our family so that we can see them one last time and do the final paperwork on our own hands. That would be really helpful,” Sufi Masood said.
He said they were grateful for the support the Irish people had shown and the candlelight vigil held by Rathfarnham residents showed the kindness in the people.
[ad_2]