Doctor seeks to bring bodies of family to Ireland after fire

The Dublin-based doctor whose wife and three children died in a suspected arson attack in England is attempting to have their bodies returned for burial in Ireland.

Dr Muhammad Taufiq al Sattar said he has spoken to MPs and councillors in Leicester, where his family were staying, about getting the bodies released early.

In the Islamic tradition, funerals normally take place as soon as possible. Dr Sattar said he had tried his "level best" to get the remains released early, but added that "I fully accept the law".

In an interview with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ radio, Dr Sattar outlined his family’s strong faith, and said he would take comfort in his religion following the tragedy. “I wouldn’t say that I’m alone… God is with me, Allah is with me,” he said.

Shehnila Taufiq and her sons Jamal and Bilal and daughter Zainab died in a house blaze in Wood Hill, Leicester, in the early hours of Friday, September 13th.

This morning Dr Sattar paid tribute to his wife, saying “she was an excellent person… she was a caring mother, she looked after the three children and brought up my three children in my absence”.

Dr Sattar said his wife and daughter had planned to relocate to Ireland next year, while his sons were to remain in Leicester. He said he used to phone his family several times a day and spoke to his wife and children hours before they died.

The tragic news was broken to Dr Sattar, who is a consultant neurosurgeon in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and two private clinics, in the early hours of Saturday morning last.

An 18-year-old man appeared in court today in Leicester charged with the murders. He was arrested on Sunday night - one of six detained in the hours after the blaze killed Ms Taufiq and her children.