Abu Dhabi: The ex-husband of the American teacher who was murdered on Al Reem Island on Monday expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for his personal follow up and the great care and attention given to him and his twin boys.
US teacher Ibolya Ryan was a mother of three. Two of her children, 11-year-old twin boys, were being looked after by community police until their father Paul arrived in the UAE.
Paul Ryan, the ex-husband of the victim, said Shaikh Saif’s care and attention has helped reduce the pain they felt after losing Ibolya.
He said: “Shaikh Saif called me personally right after my arrival and offered his condolences on behalf of the UAE people and government and told me that they will do their utmost and make every possible effort to find the suspect who committed the crime and help us throughout our plight until the end of this tough time.”
Ryan, who lives in Vienna, Austria, with their 13-year-daughter, added: “I am satisfied with the civilised and professional way UAE authorities have dealt with this issue, the way of dealing with events or with me and my family personally.”
He described his ex-wife as a beautiful and kind-hearted person.
“I knew that she would be a great mother of my children. After an amicable divorce, I moved to Vienna and she moved to Abu Dhabi where she got a job. We agreed to keep my 13-year old daughter at her interior school in Vienna and that my ex-wife could keep our 11-year-old twin boys in Abu Dhabi,” Ryan said.
He pointed out that Ibolya’s plan was to stay in Abu Dhabi for two years after which the two children would move to Vienna where he lives along with his daughter, or they would all move to live somewhere in the United States.
Ryan heard the tragic news from one of the victim’s friends who sent him an email and asked him to call her back.
He said he knew after he called Ibolya’s friend and then he came directly to Dubai airport where he was received by a police officer from Dubai Community Police Department who accompanied him to the Victims’ Affairs Office and then he was accompanied by an Abu Dhabi police officer who took him in a car to Abu Dhabi.
Ryan said he was impressed with the great care and attention he received since he arrived in Abu Dhabi where he and his twin boys were provided with accommodation and all the care they need. He praised the UAE government and all Emiratis and Ibolya’s friends for the support and the massive efforts they made.
He praised the immense cooperation and close contact with him by Emirati authorities and this is the reason why he feels profoundly grateful, especially after the arrest of what he described as a “monster”.
