Vol. 498 No. 4
78 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he took to seek the release of four persons, including an Irish man, from abduction in Chechnya; if he has raised the death of these four men with the Chechen and other relevant authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/98]
121 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will investigate suggestions that Chechen police were aware of the location of kidnap victims, including Mr. Darren Hickey, prior to their murder by their captors. [27587/98]
122 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will register Ireland's strong protest with the Chechen authorities in relation to the horrific death in captivity of Mr. Darren Hickey. [27588/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 121 and 122 together.
Four telecommunications workers employed by a British company who were kidnapped in Chechnya on 3 October were murdered last week. One of those killed was Darren Hickey whose parents are from Ireland and who was therefore an Irish citizen but who was travelling on a British passport. The brutal killing of these four men has horrified the world.
I am aware of reports that the Chechen police knew where the hostages were being held prior to their murder but that and many other details of what actually happened remain unconfirmed.
At my direction, our Ambassador to Russia has met the Chechen President's Acting Representative in Moscow and conveyed the Irish Government's strong condemnation of the killings. The Ambassador informed the Chechen authorities that the killing of Mr. Hickey and his companions has caused revulsion in Ireland and he expressed the Government's hope that every effort will be made to track down those responsible. Our Ambassador has also communicated these messages to the Russian Foreign and Interior Ministries.
I take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the Hickey family and to the other bereaved families.
