Sons waited for mother in mall, victim’s former husband says

Paul Ryan thanks Government and police for their care of his twin boys, 11, after death of their mother.

Paul Ryan, the former husband of murder victim Ibolya Ryan, in Abu Dhabi with their children, from left, Adam, 11, Aidan, 11 and Timea, 13. "I've achieved deep respect for the Government and how they're handling things," Mr Ryan said. Sarah Dea / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // The twin sons of murdered American nursery teacher Ibolya Ryan had been waiting for her in the mall in which she died, their father revealed yesterday.

And Paul Ryan said he had temporarily moved to Abu Dhabi to allow their twin sons to finish their school semester here. “I think it’s the best thing because the boys love that school and want some closure there as well.

Mrs Ryan, 47, was stabbed to death in the restrooms at Boutik Mall, Reem Island on Monday.

Mr Ryan said their sons Aidan and Adam, 11, were with their mother at the mall and had agreed to meet her at a coffee shop after they had used the bathrooms.

“They waited there for an hour wondering what had happened,” he said. “They saw police officers run by at one point but then they just waited for her.

“She didn’t come and they looked around and they couldn’t find her so they went home, which is just steps away from this mall. They went home and waited for her there.”

Last night Mr Ryan said the boys still did not know the details of that day and he was doing his best to keep it that way.

“They know that she was attacked and I’ve asked them not to watch that video, not to see the scenes of the bathroom and I hope that they don’t,” he said.

As soon as the news of his ex-wife’s murder broke, he booked a flight from his home in Vienna to go to his sons in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Ryan said his plans to immediately take his boys to Vienna or the US changed after speaking with representatives from the office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

He received personal calls from Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Minister of Interior, and was comforted to meet the officers who tenderly cared for his sons in their apartment as they waited for him.

He also had constant contact with Abu Dhabi Police liaison officers.

“The way this has all been handled has quieted my fears to a great extent,” Mr Ryan said.

“I’ve achieved a deep respect for the Government and how they’re handling things, and the seriousness with which they take everything.

“I began to realise how personally they took this attack in this society and that they were deeply wounded by it, they were shocked and angered by it, that this could happen.”

The Government has pledged to pay the school and university costs for the three Ryan children, including Timia, 13, who lives with her father in Vienna.

An Emirati woman has been arrested over Mrs Ryan’s killing but Mr Ryan wants his boys and the public to focus on positives and their happy memories.

He has launched a memorial Facebook page called "Ibolya and her Legacy" for Mrs Ryan, to whom he was married for 17 years, where they will post photos and messages.

“We try to remember what is important,” said Mr Ryan. “She’s just a very pure-hearted, beautiful person. It’s true. She would never hurt anybody.

“Everybody loved her, enjoyed her vivaciousness, very positive outlook on life, bubbly personality. You can underscore that with a couple of lines.

“That was certainly what they will always remember and what everyone remembers, so that will be always there for them, I hope.”

Ms Ryan came from humble beginnings in a small, rural village in Romania. She went on to earn her master’s degree in special education and eventually sought to live a financially independent life in the UAE.

Mr Ryan said his former wife would be repatriated to her homeland where her mother and older brother live.

And because the Abu Dhabi Government was so graciously covering the cost of his children's education, the family wants to give the thousands of dollars donated to the online fund-raising campaign, launched on gofundme.com/Ibolya, to her immediate family in Romania.

Mr Ryan said his attention has been given to the children, and that the investigation was not his concern.

“My focus has been strictly, pretty much strictly, on the kids. The investigation, it’s out of my hands,” he said.

“Of course I want the perpetrator captured and whatever was behind her to be discovered and wrapped up – of course I want that. That’s important for a sense of closure, but really, that’s out of my hands.

“My main focus has been on the kids and what am I going to do with them and how is that going to be handled, and that is always going to be my focus.”

Earlier yesterday, Mr Ryan told US TV network CNN about his horror at finding out about the crime.

“One just needs to look at the video – the images of that bathroom – and it knocks you out, it knocks you out,” he said.

A candlelight vigil in memory of Ms Ryan and in solidarity with her children will be held at Kite Beach in Jumeirah, Dubai at 6pm on Sunday.