Tori Towey in Ireland after Dubai charges dropped

11 minutes ago

Tori Towey has arrived home nearly two weeks since ordeal began

DETAINED IN DUBAI GROUP Tori Towey smiling at the camera. She has brown hair and eyebrows. Is wearing red lipstick and diamond stud earrings. — Tori Towey has arrived home nearly two weeks since ordeal began

A woman charged with criminal offences in Dubai after she was allegedly a victim of domestic violence has returned to Ireland.

Tori Towey, 28, faced charges including attempted suicide and consuming alcohol and had her passport destroyed.

Her case prompted an intervention by Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris earlier this week after it was raised in the Dáil (Irish lower house of parliament).

Radha Stirling, a lawyer and human rights advocate who runs the Detained in Dubai group, said Ms Towey said on social media “she’s home”.

A flight from Dubai landed in Dublin at 12:21 local time.

Ms Towey, from County Roscommon, was working as a flight attendant with an airline based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), when she was charged with attempting suicide and consuming alcohol.

Police in the UAE withdrew the charges against Ms Towey on Wednesday and a travel ban was lifted.

‘She will speak when she is ready’

Her case drew attention in Ireland when it was raised in the Dáil by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Mr Harris said her treatment had been “utterly, utterly unacceptable”.

Claire Kerrane, a Sinn Féin TD from Roscommon, said she had spoken to Ms Towey.

“She wants to get home to County Roscommon and rest. I would ask that the media respect her privacy, she will speak when she is ready to,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Ms Kerrane said hopes that media will respect that and Ms Towey “will be given that space”.

What happened up to this point?

28 June – After allegedly being assaulted, Ms Towey is charged with attempting suicide

9 July – Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald raises her situation in the Dáil and says her passport has been destroyed and she has been banned from travelling

Taoiseach Simon Harris says the Irish government will do what it can to help Ms Towey

10 July – Mr Harris says he has spoken to Ms Towey and that she is increasingly positive about the situation

The taoiseach later confirms the travel ban has been lifted and she is preparing to travel to the airport and home to Ireland

The Dubai Public Prosecution confirms the case against Ms Towey has been dropped

11 July – Ms Towey and her mother return to their home in the Republic of Ireland