- • Minister says that our thoughts are with the victims, including Edel Mahady from Dublin, and their families
- • Minister calls on all states to cooperate with the criminal investigation
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, has welcomed the publication of the interim results of the criminal investigation into the downing of flight MH17 over the Ukraine in July 2014..
Following the publication of the interim report this afternoon, Minister Flanagan said:
“I welcome the publication today of the initial findings of the criminal investigation into the downing of flight MH17.
“I want to acknowledge the work done by the Joint Investigation Team led by the Netherlands, comprising investigation authorities from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and Belgium.
“Ireland has been fully supportive of the criminal investigation being undertaken by the Joint Investigation Team and today’s report is part of an ongoing process which seeks to obtain justice for those who died and some closure for their families.
“I encourage all states to cooperate fully with the criminal investigation and with all efforts to establish accountability, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2166.
“Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of those who so tragically lost their lives. I know that today must be a particularly difficult day for them.
“We are thinking today particularly of Irish-born Edel Mahady, who was on board that fateful flight, and of her family.”
Notes for Editors
On 17 July 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 17 between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur crashed over eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers, including one Irish-born passenger, lost their lives. The majority of victims were from The Netherlands (193), Malaysia (43), Australia (27), Indonesia (12) and the UK (10).
A criminal investigation was launched into the downing of the flight by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by the Netherlands, comprising investigation authorities from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and Belgium. The interim results of the criminal investigation are being published today.
A separate investigation into the technical cause of the crash was conducted by the Dutch Safety Board and concluded that the crash was caused by the detonation of a warhead fired from a BUK missile system.
On 21 July 2014, UN Security Council Resolution 2166 was passed unanimously, calling for the repatriation of remains, a comprehensive investigation and the holding to account of those responsible.