Man held over death of Irish aid worker

A MAN has been arrested in connection with the death of an Irish overseas charity worker in Zanzibar, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night.

Robert Stringer (26), Newcastle, Co Wicklow, was found dead last Friday morning on a beach in Zanzibar, an island in the Indian Ocean 25 miles off Tanzania.

He had suffered head injuries after an apparent mugging.

When he was found in bushes on the beach at about 8am on Friday, his wallet and his shoes were missing. He had been on holiday on the island after five weeks of voluntary work with Irish charity Camara.

It is understood the man arrested was from Tanzania.

A spokesman from the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night the Irish Embassy in Dar es Salaam was in constant contact with police in connection with the case and was keeping Mr Stringer’s family updated.

“The embassy is offering support and assistance to the family of Mr Stringer at this time,” he said.

The embassy will also be co-ordinating the return of Mr Stringer’s body to Ireland.

It is understood that Mr Stringer’s body has not yet been officially released and is still on the island of Zanzibar.

It is being held as part of the criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Mr Stringer will shortly be moved to Dar es Salaam before he is released to make the journey to Ireland. It is likely that Mr Stringer’s body will be returned to his family next weekend.

Mr Stringer had completed a five-week volunteer mission with Camara, which donates second-hand computers to African countries.

The organisation takes in second-hand computers that have been discarded by Irish organisations, businesses and individuals, refurbishes them and sends them to schools and colleges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Stringer had worked as team co-ordinator of Camara’s computer training team in Tanzania before taking a holiday on Zanzibar, a popular budget and backpacker destination.

In a brief statement, the chief executive of Camara, Cormac Lynch, said he and all the staff in Camara wished to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Stringer.

“Camara request that the family’s privacy be respected at this time,” he added.

Mr Stringer is survived by his parents and two brothers.