MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has called for an international panel of inquiry with Irish involvement to investigate the violent death of Irishman Michael Dwyer in Bolivia.
Mr Martin said he did not want to prejudge what happened to Mr Dwyer, who was one of three men shot dead by Bolivian police at a hotel in Santa Cruz last week.
Police claimed he was involved in a plot to assassinate Bolivian president Evo Morales.
Mr Martin told RTÉ yesterday: “We have noted that the president [Morales] himself has suggested an international panel of inquiry be established to facilitate an investigation into what exactly happened in relation to this incident.”
He said the first priority of officials from the Irish Embassy in Argentina, which has responsibility for Bolivia, was to secure the release of Mr Dwyer’s body and its repatriation. As Irish officials held talks over his death with senior Bolivian government representatives, plans were being made for the remains to be brought home.
Derek Lambe, a second secretary from the Irish Embassy in Argentina, and Ireland’s honorary consul in Bolivia, Peter O’Toole, met officials from the Bolivian police and interior ministry yesterday. Mr Dwyer’s body is expected to arrive in Ireland by the end of the week.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Dwyer’s family said they were “relieved and comforted by the fact that Michael’s body is now in the hands of Irish authorities, awaiting final documentation for repatriation”.
They said officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Irish officials in Bolivia and Argentina had been “of great support”.
“The Dwyer family would also like to express their thanks to those media outlets who have respected their appeal for privacy, and wish for this request to continue to be respected.
“Media representatives are asked not to visit the family home and surrounding area, or try to contact the family directly. Friends, family and neighbours however are welcome.”
Tributes were also paid at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology to Mr Dwyer, who studied construction management there as a four-year honours degree course. GMIT head of the building and civil engineering department Tom White said Mr Dwyer was “very pleasant”, popular with student colleagues. The Menlo Emmetts GAA club in Galway also sympathised with Mr Dwyer’s family.