THE MINISTER for Foreign Affairs has apologised to the family of a girl for “shortcomings” in consular assistance when she died after taking ill on holiday in Turkey.
Aoife Carr (17) was flown home by air ambulance after she suffered a brain embolism. Friends took out bank loans and overdrafts with the help of their parents to cover the €28,500 cost of flying her home. Aoife, a student from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, had not taken out holiday insurance.
Micheál Martin has asked the ambassador to Turkey, Tom Russell, to prepare a report on his consular services.