THE mother of a young Irish man killed in Ukraine has called on European Justice Minister Michael McGrath to help solve the mystery of her son’s death.
Ryan Evans, 38, was horrifically killed during a missile strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine in August 2024.
He was working with news agency Reuters looking after journalists and photographers reporting on the conflict.
His family, from Lanesboro, Co Longford, have been in contact with MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who has flagged the death to Commissioner McGrath.
In a letter to the former Irish Finance Minister, shared with the Irish Sun, Ryan’s mother Geraldine Evans said: “We have been informed that Ryan sustained massive injuries and was killed instantly, however, there are some small conflicting accounts from official sources and eye witnesses at the scene, whom we have spoken with, regarding his injuries.
“We are therefore seeking to obtain the autopsy report from the Ukrainian authorities in order to learn as much as we can and try and understand our son’s last moments and find out how badly injured he was as we were unable to see him when his body was brought home, his coffin was sealed.
“We understand the report will be traumatic to read, however, we believe that knowing is better than guessing and imagining his injuries as we have been now for almost a year.”
Independent Ireland MEP Mullooly has said he has received a commitment from EU Commissioner McGrath that he will raise the issue with the Ukrainian authorities, specifically seeking the results of Mr Evans’s autopsy.
He told the Irish Sun: “Ryan worked for Reuters and he was an experienced security man. He wasn’t a journalist.
“He was in the Middle East hundreds of times. He did all sorts of stuff before, but he was killed in a hotel in Ukraine last summer. His injuries were really, really severe.
“Last week, we met Michael McGrath and as the commissioner he’s the right man in the right place and he’s taken it on.
“He’s going to use his role to put pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to see what he can find out.
“On a broader note though, it’s clear that hotels are being targeted by the Russians in Ukraine.”
