The grieving family and boyfriend of an Irish doctor killed in the Air France plane disaster said tonight they were enormously relieved that her body has been recovered.
Dr Jane Deasy (27) from Dublin, died with two friends, Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Eithne Walls on board the flight which crashed into the Atlantic on June 1st, killing all 228 people on board.
A statement on behalf of mother Barbara, father Joseph, and sisters Caragh and Alison said they had been comforted by messages of support since her death.
"The members of the Deasy family and Alex Creavin, beloved boyfriend, are enormously relieved that the body of the late and the loved Dr Jane Deasy has been found," it read.
"They wish to thank all those who prayed for her return and send messages of support, which were a source of great comfort at this very difficult time.
"The thoughts of the family and Alex are with the Butler and Walls families and they are praying that the bodies of Jane's beloved friends Aisling and Eithne will also be found."
They also thanked authorities involved in the search mission and embassy staff.
"They wish to express sincere gratitude for the courtesy and professionalism shown of all agencies involved; the gardaí, and in particular the investigating team who went to Brazil, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland and Brazil, the US embassy, the Brazilian and French authorities and Air France," they said.
"Finally, the family ask the media to respect their privacy at this very difficult time."
The Department of Foreign Affairs was informed overnight that the young medic's body had been identified but it is not clear when she was pulled from the ocean.
In a statement, the Department said officials were continuing to work closely with the families, and with embassies in Paris and Brasilia liaising with local authorities.
A spokeswoman said they could not say when the body would be repatriated.
"It's impossible to say because we just don't know. It's a complicated process," she said.
The Department said its officials on the ground in Recife would continue to liaise with Brazilian authorities.
Two Irish detectives were sent to Brazil last month to help identify some of the 51 bodies pulled from the Atlantic.
Detective Inspector Joseph Kinsella, who worked on the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and Detective Sergeant Jarlath Lennon hoped DNA and dental records would allow them to identify and repatriate the remains of the three Irish and five British people lost in the crash.
The body of one Briton, Graham Gardner (52) from Gourock, Inverclyde, was also identified.
The Brazilian military called off its hunt for further remains last week, saying it was impossible to find any more.
In a statement this afternoon, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin extended his condolences to the family.
"The family of Dr. Jane Deasy has been informed that her remains have been positively identified as among those found in the aftermath of the Air France flight AF447 crash. I reiterate my sincerest condolences to Dr Deasy's family, and to all those who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy," he said.
Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris had 228 people on board, including Dr Deasy, when it went missing on May 31st, around four hours into its flight.
She had been in Brazil with her two doctor friends and was flying home for a friend's wedding.
All three were Trinity College graduates forging promising careers as doctors.
Dr Butler (26) of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, was doing an internship at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, and was due to move on to St James's Hospital in the city.
Dr Walls (28) from Ballygowan, Co Down, worked at Dublin's Eye and Ear Hospital and was a talented Irish dancer who won medals nationally and internationally before joining Riverdance in 2000.
Originally from Cork, the Deasy family lived in Dublin's Castleknock before moving to Rathmines in the south of the city.
Dr Deasy, who graduated from Trinity College Dublin's medical school in 2007, was due to take up a position at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital on Dublin's Adelaide Road today.
PA