Ballinteer tragedy Dad will be consulted about repatriation of tragic mum and kids' bodies to India

The husband of tragic Seema Banu, who was found dead with her two children this week, must be consulted on what happens to their remains, the Indian Ambassador said yesterday.

Gardai confirmed they had launched a murder investigation this weekend following the discovery of Seema (37), her daughter Asfira Riza (11) and son Faizan Syed (6) in their home in Llewellyn Court, Ballinteer, Dublin, on Wednesday.

The post-mortems revealed that the cause of death in all three cases was strangulation.

While gardai are satisfied the two children were murdered, they have yet to formally confirm how Seema sustained her fatal injuries, but are examining the possibility she was murdered.

Seema's family are based in India and this weekend appealed for help in having her body and her children's bodies repatriated.

However, the Indian Ambassador to Ireland Sandeep Kumar yesterday told the Sunday World that the embassy also needs to hear what Seema's husband Sameer Sayed wants to do.

"The processes are still unfolding.We are definitely there to assist and offer support on all issues and we are confident all concerns will be addressed and there would be no need for fundraising," said the ambassador.

"There are two sections of family: one is Seema's family and the other is the husband. We need to hear from the husband what he wants to do.

"Everything is being determined and the Indian Embassy will be there for support."

Seema's cousin Sufi Masood Hussain said her family, who are from Mysore in southern India, were devastated by the deaths.

He appealed for help in having the bodies returned.

Irishwoman Claire Tobin organised a GoFundMe to raise money to help Seema's family repatriate the bodies.

Around €4,000 had been raised within a few hours of the appeal going live, but Claire halted the fundraiser after speaking to the Indian Embassy.

"The matter is being dealt with by them and they have advised that fundraising is not necessary," she said.

The family had only moved to Ireland from Dubai earlier in February this year after Sameer got a job here.

Neighbours alerted gardai after becoming concerned that they hadn't seen the family in a number of days.

When gardai arrived at the house they found the bodies of the two children in one room and Seema's body in another.

Taps had been left running in the home, causing extensive flooding damage.

Gardai believe they had been dead for a number of days before the bodies were discovered.

Sunday World