THE travel ban against Irish Emirates Airlines flight attendant Tori Towey in Dubai has been lifted, Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the Dail.
The Irish woman had been detained by authorities in Dubai after being charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption.
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She was facing jail in Dubai after attempting to take her own life following a horror attack in her home.
Taoiseach Harris today revealed in the Dail that ban has now been lifted and efforts are being made to get her home.
He said: “I’ve just been informed that the travel ban has been lifted, that the Embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go, and that the Embassy will, of course, continue to follow up on the case, which is still active as of now.”
Harris gave the update which he “just received in real time” to the Dail chamber this afternoon.
He also thanked the Irish embassy in the United Arab Emirates for their work on the case.
Tori had been living a nightmare in Dubai after being charged with with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption following a horror attack.
The 28-year-old, from Boyle, Co Roscommon, suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment after being brutally attacked in her own home.
But after an attempt to take her own life in the wake of the domestic violence assault, authorities in Dubai instead charged Tori and she was hit with a travel ban.
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Tori and her family have been pleading for help from the Irish State to get her home safely.
Tori’s husband was named as her attacker by the Sinn Fein’s leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail.
Pleading to the Government, Tori urged them to step in regarding her case.
She said: “I’m glad I’m with my mother now but I don’t know what’s going to happen in court next week.
“I’m desperate to go home to Ireland and put all of this in the past. I’m asking the Taoiseach to please help us.
‘Very anxious’
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland earlier today, Ann Flynn, the sister of Ms Towey’s mother Caroline, said that “Tori can’t travel, so Caroline has to stay with Tori, so we’re just all very anxious”.
She added that the family are now hoping that they will soon get word that the mum and daughter are on a plane home.
She said: “I don’t know will this court case go ahead, or if it does what will happen? We’re just very hopeful.”
“It’s really terrible that this has happened to a young woman who was full of life and full of adventure, and loved travelling.”
‘Incredible stress’
Speaking to Sky News, Flynn also said that all Towey wants is to come home and is now under “incredible stress”.
She said: “Tori now faces charges in Dubai of attempted suicide and the abuse of alcohol.
“The system over there, rather than protecting this woman who is an Irish citizen, chose instead to detain her, to charge her.
“She’s now under the most incredible stress.”
‘Hope and inspiration’
Radha Stirling, founder of the Detained in Dubai group, said the support of the Irish people and the Irish Government had “really warmed” them and “given them hope and inspiration”.
She said the case is due to be heard in court next week.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing “ongoing consular assistance” in the case, as was Ireland’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
A statement said: “The Irish ambassador to the UAE is in regular contact with our citizen (including this morning). The embassy is also engaging with all the relevant authorities in UAE on the case.
“Officials will continue to provide advice and consular assistance.”