Edel 'wouldn't waste time hating' those who shot down MH17
The family of an Irish woman who died aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MHI7 have said she "would not want anyone to waste time on hating" those responsible for downing the aircraft.
Edel Mahady was one of 298 passengers and crew, including 80 children, who died when the the Boeing 777 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday.
The mother of two, who was in her 50s and originally from Palmerstown in Dublin but living in Perth, had been visiting her mother in Ireland, and was returning back to Australia.
In a statement, her family has asked for privacy to grieve. They describe Edel as an Irish version of a "tiger mother" - taking care of all those around her and was devoted to and immeasurably proud of her husband Dereck, son Conor and daughter Ciara.
"Edel’s fierce love of her family was evident in her support of her siblings through constant communication and regular visits to care for her elderly mother," her family said.
"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."
Her family asked that at this time their privacy is respected as they grieve for their beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.
Fr Tony Reilly, parish priest in Palmerstown, said Edel's family are struggling to come to terms with her death.
"The family are devastated by what has happened because in a very special way, Edel was very attentive to her mother," Fr Reilly said.
"She used to come from Australia a few times a year to be with her and she had only left her on Wednesday night to catch a flight early Thursday out of Dublin.
"She said goodbye to her and she said she hoped she'd see her again soon."
Meanwhile Ukraine and separatist rebels have reportedly agreed to a 12 -mile 'security zone' around the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines disaster in Ukraine.
It comes after investigators had previously complained that they were being restricted access.
The crash site area is held by pro-Russian rebels - who Britain and the US say probably shot down the aircraft with a missile.
