We would have tried to raise ransom, say aid worker’s family

HEARTBROKEN relatives of murdered aid worker Khalil Dale have said they wished they had known his ransom was not being paid because they would have tried to raise the money themselves.

The 60-year-old was killed by kidnappers in Pakistan who left a note saying that he had died because ransom demands had not been met.

Now relatives of Mr Dale living in Yorkshire said they think his family should have been given the chance to raise the money to secure his freedom.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sister-in-law Margaret Dale said: “My thought was that the Red Cross would pay the ransom but I was wrong. I wish they had told me that it was not going to be paid. We were all desperate to get him home, and he has family here who all own properties. We could have tried to raise money.

“We were told that the Red Cross had asked for ‘proof of life’ which we took as a sign that someone was looking at paying the ransom to get him. A video of him was given – there have been five videos of him apparently.”

Mrs Dale, who lives in Huntington, York, said the last four months had been “absolutely horrific” for the family.

She has also criticised the Foreign Office for not contacting her to inform her that her brother-in-law had been killed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs Dale said: “I contacted the Foreign Office and said that I would hate to find out that he had been killed on the news and I was told they would keep me informed but I am still waiting for a call from them four days after he was found dead.”

Mrs Dale’s daughter Kathryn Kettlespring, who also lives in York, said the family had been told there might be positive news last Wednesday only to discover her uncle had been killed four days later.

A Red Cross spokeswoman said the charity’s policy was to call for the unconditional release of hostages and said it had worked tirelessly to secure Mr Dale’s release.

A Foreign Office spokesman reiterated the British Government’s condemnation of the kidnapping and killing of Mr Dale and their condolences to his family and loved ones.