The family of the Irish woman killed on flight MH17 has said she wouldn’t want anyone to hate those who ended her life with their missile attack on the Malaysian Airlines flight.

Dubliner Edel Mahady was on her way back to her home in Western Australia when she died on the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The mother of two had spent a fortnight in her native Palmerstown in west Dublin visiting her elderly mother.

Now her family have paid tribute to her in a statement to the WAToday.com website.

The statement described her devotion to her husband Dereck, also from Dublin, son Conor and daughter Ciara.

The statement read: “If there was an Irish version of a ‘tiger mother’, Edel was it.

“Edel’s fierce love of her family was evident in her support of her siblings through constant communication and regular visits to care for her elderly mother.

“She would be heartbroken to know how saddened we are by her death, but she wouldn’t want anyone to waste time on hating those who killed her.

“She would be expecting us to 'suck it up' and make sure we looked after those who need it and live fully.”

A bursar at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Kelmscott for 14 years, Mahady also worked as an instructor at Fitness First in Cannington and Myaree.

A Catholic Education WA spokeswoman said she was a valued member of her school community.

A range of support services including counseling was available for staff and students.