The Reception and Integration Agency has said it will "co-operate fully" with a Garda investigation into the death of a South African woman at asylum seekers' accommodation in Salthill, Galway, earlier this month.
The Galway Refugee Support Group has called for a review of the system of direct provision, following the death of Brenda Kwesikazi Mohammed (27), at the Eglinton Hotel, Galway, on January 6th.
Her husband, Bashiru Mohammed Dauda (30), believes his wife died of malnutrition as she was unable to eat the food at the hotel and there was no provision for self-catering.
In a report in the multicultural newspaper Metro Éireann last week, Mr Dauda blamed the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) for failing to respond to appeals to have the family relocated. Mr Dauda declined to comment yesterday but is reported to have discovered his wife's body, along with the couple's two-year-old child Liyah, in their room on his return from a trip to Dublin.
Brenda Kwesikazi Mohammed was born in South Africa, and arrived in Ireland in September 2004. In her asylum application, she stated that she was Zimbabwean and adopted another name, believing this would increase her chances of being accepted as an asylum seeker.
Her husband, Bashiru, arrived in Ireland in February 2006, and says he was shocked to find his wife had lost a considerable amount of weight. She had been diagnosed with post-natal depression and was receiving medical treatment.
Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death but have said that they do not believe there is anything suspicious. Her husband says he wrote 18 letters to the RIA seeking a transfer, supported by his wife's doctor. He has claimed that an offer to move the family to self-catering accommodation in Mosney, Co Meath, on December 15th was withdrawn.
In a lengthy statement, the RIA said that the cause of death was as yet unknown "but it can be stated that the deceased was under the care of the health professionals for some time prior to her death".