THE parents of Jastine Valdez have thanked the Irish public for their support, and have paid tribute to their daughter.
The 24-year-old student was abducted and murdered last weekend by 40-year-old father of two Mark Hennessy.
She was taken near her home in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow last Saturday evening.
Her body was found on a disused golf course on Monday.
Today, her parents Teresita and Danilo released a statement through the Irish Consulate of the Philippines.
It read: "We would like to thank all the Irish people and the Philippine community living in Ireland for all their support, compassion, and sympathy during this tragic time for us. It has been of some comfort knowing how deeply our beautiful daughter Jastine has affected the people of Ireland.
"Our daughter’s plans were to settle in Ireland, buy a house here and make a new life. She is a fun-loving, wonderful, caring daughter and friend.
"She is always in our hearts and in the hearts of the people of Ireland.
"We would like to thank emergency services, the Gardai, Chief Superintendent Quirke, Superintendent Ward, and especially our Liaison officer Garda Pat Mackey.
"They have acted with the utmost professionalism and speed to return our beautiful daughter Jastine to us.
"We also wish to acknowledge the support and sympathy of our family, friends, and the people of the Philippines, Outreach Ireland, and both the Philippine and Irish Dept of Foreign Affairs for their help and support.
"Finally, we wish to thank the wonderful help and support given by Mark Congdon, Consul of the Philippines for all he has done to support us during this traumatic time."
Jastine’s body will repose in a funeral home in Bray on Saturday afternoon.
Gardai are still investigating the circumstances of her death, and are still trying to locate her handbag and Apple iPad.
