THE FAMILY OF an Irish woman killed in the Malaysia Airlines plane disaster in Ukraine has described her as “devoted to and immeasurably proud” of her husband and two children.

Edel Mahady emigrated to Australia as a newlywed and had been working at a primary school and as a fitness instructor. She had been visiting her injured mother in Dublin and was returning home when the plane was taken down by a missile over Ukrainian airspace.

In a statement today, the 55-year-old’s family said she “saw the best in people, put up with no nonsense and spoke with honesty and conviction”.

She would be heartbroken to know how saddened we are by her death, she would not want anyone to waste time on hating those who did this rather she would be expecting us to ‘suck it up’ and make sure we looked after those who need it and to live fully.

They asked that their privacy be respected as they “grieve for their beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend”.

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