The Irish teacher killed in a bus crash in Dubai has been recalled as "an enthusiastic, energetic teacher who always got the best from her students."
Fiona Geraghty, is among 17 people who died in a bus crash in Dubai.
The 27-year-old was a school teacher in Balbriggan, Co Dublin but was on career break in Dubai.
Ms Geraghty’s school St Molaga’s in Balbriggan paid tribute to her in a message circulated to parents and guardians.
“This is a terrible tragedy for Fiona’s family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by the news of her death.”
“Fiona was a much loved member of our staff and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an enthusiastic, energetic teacher who always got the best from her students. She was lively but calm, strong but gentle, innovative and creative in her work and loved by staff and pupils alike,”read the statement.
Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (Neps) are supporting and advising teachers to help pupils in dealing with the incident.
The bus from Oman crashed into a warning sign coming off a major highway in Dubai, killing 17 of the passengers on board , authorities said.
At least 12 Indian nationals were also among the dead, Indian consular officials said.
The bus drove straight into a low-clearance sign in Dubai’s Rashidiya neighbourhood, smashing through the driver’s side of the bus.
The sign hangs over a car-only off-ramp of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Mwasalat, a government-owned bus company in Oman, said the crash involving its Muscat-to-Dubai route. It said it would suspend the service for the immediate future.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed one Irish national, a woman, had died and consular assistance was being provided to the family.
It is understood her partner was a man aged in his late 20s from Co Longford, was also injured in the crash. The man is originally from Lanesboro, a small town located on the Longford border with Co Roscommon.
The young man, who moved to Dubai around two years ago, is in a stable condition in hospital. His parents are travelling over to the Middle East currently, according to local sources. A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they are aware of the man’s case and are providing consular assistance.
The Irish couple had travelled back to Ireland for a social occasion recently, before returning to the United Arab Emirates, one source said.
Dubai police said the dead included different nationalities, with several others injured.
“Sometimes a minor error or negligence during driving leads to serious consequences,” police said on Twitter, without elaborating on the cause of the crash.
