This situation we haven’t had yet, for me this is the first time that the parents can’t come to an agreement, Croatian ambassador to Ireland Davor Vidiš told 24sata.
Već for more than two months, the body of Croatian Josip Štrok, who died as a result of a beating in Ireland, is still in Dublin. As it was explained to us, the body was not transferred to Croatia because both Nedjeljko, Josip’s father, and his ex-wife, Josip’s mother, asked to receive it. Earlier it was announced that the mother wanted the body to go to London, and the father to Croatia, not Krapina, where he lives. He states that he has the right to this, because his wife left him and his son when Josip was only 12 months old, so he received custody.
– Parents can’t come to an agreement and that’s it. I assume that a lawsuit will be started at some point and we are waiting for an agreement. We tried to urge the coroner to make a decision, but it is a matter of their agreement, we can’t do anything about it – Ambassador Vidiš told us and confirmed that the body is with the coroner.
Another problem, the ambassador says, is who will pay for the costs of lying and embalming the body.
– It is a good question who will pay the costs. We were looking for an answer, but we didn’t get it. Given the situation, costs will probably not be charged. The only question is how long it will be like this – the ambassador told us and confirmed that he will continue to be in contact with both parents.
Josip’s father, Nediljko Štrok, also told us that there is nothing new in this case.
– The coroner does not betray order, because the request was also submitted by the mother. I am not in contact with her. I still hope that it will all be sorted out – Nediljko told us briefly, adding that he will soon release new information to the public.
The Irish media announced earlier that the police arrested three suspects who are connected to the death of a 31-year-old Croat. One of the suspects was released from custody, while the other two were in court. Riječ is about teenagers Anthony Delappe (18) and Conor Rafferty (19). They are accused of murder, but also of assault.
Let us remind you that Štrok and his friend David Družinec were beaten on October 30. Družinec told the media that it all started in a local store, when a group of men approached Croats and attacked them for disrespecting their country, because they did not speak English. They got on the bus, he recounted, and the attackers followed them in a car. When they got off the public transport, they were attacked.
– They came from behind, first they hit me with a baseball bat, or something else, I don’t know the name. I fainted. After a few minutes I managed to get up. I saw what he was doing to Josip. I wanted to help him and I got hit four more times and I was done. The last thing I remember from that moment is that I saw the lights of the Emergency Service – Štrok’s friend recalled. Both have known each other since childhood and moved to Ireland together in 2019 for a better life.
The Irish media also wrote earlier that one of the suspected gang leaders was previously known to the police. He was investigated for drug-related crimes in the past. He is also known for publishing right-wing rhetoric and messages against migrants.