The Minister for Foreign Affairs has expressed his shock at the murder of an Irish aid worker in Lesotho on Thursday night.
Mr Ken Hickey (75), a civil engineer from Thurles, Co Tipperary, was stabbed to death outside his home in the capital, Maseru. His body was found yesterday morning.
He had been working as a volunteer for the Agency for Personnel Overseas, (APSO), and was manager of an Irish-funded project to build footbridges in rural areas. He had been in the southern African kingdom since 1992.
Mr Andrews said Irish people had "for generations given selflessly of themselves to assist the poorest of the poor all over the world" and he was particularly shocked at Mr Hickey's murder. He praised the "dedication and good humour" of Irish aid workers "in the face of very trying conditions".
The Minister of State at the Department, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said she would be "following up on this horrendous crime with the authorities in Lesotho".
Mr Hickey is survived by his wife, Geraldine, and two grownup sons and a daughter. He lived and worked in Ireland until 1988, initially with a private firm and later with the Department of Agriculture.
The chief executive of APSO, Mr Paul Beggan, said Mr Hickey was one of the agency's longest serving assignees. "It is very sad and deeply shocking for everybody that he should be attacked and killed in this manner. His loss in such tragic circumstances is felt by all of us. He will be greatly missed," he said.