Regarding rates of descent -
a. the crash was in Cork, Ireland, not Isle of Man. Isle of Man topography is irrelevant.
b. Cork topography DOES apply - approaching rwy 17, one is traveling over RISING terrain from a river estuary at near sea level to the airport elevation of 502' ASL. About 125 feet per mile climb on average, but I believe the actual terrain is a slow climb with a sharper rise close to the airport.
Already mentioned earlier in the thread. Actually, rather similar to the terrain situation in the Polish Presidential crash in Russia.