Call it a relief or part of an effort to quickly solve the Enrica Lexie issue, the top brass of the Italian ministry have agreed to pay blood money, and bear the education expenses of Derreck, son of Jelestine, the fisherman killed in the firing from the Italian oil-tanker off the Kerala shore in February.
It is also likely that the boy will be given a visa to go to Italy, sources said, but there is no word on any such offer to the family of the other fisherman killed in the firing incident, Ajeesh Pink.
Sources close to Jelestine’s family told DC that the compensation suits pending before court will take time to resolve and in this context, the fisherman's family has been put into a dilemma –whether to accept the offer or wait for help from a prolonged legal fight with the Italians.
It is learnt that the Catholic Church in Rome has also got involved into the issue by putting up a proposal for giving a Visa to Italy for Derreck, who turned 18 last week, for his continuing education.
On condition of anonymity a friend of the late Jelestine’s family said, “We are Catholics and believers of the Church. We have not decided on anything, we might accept a reasonable settlement offer.”