BREAKING: Travel ban on Irish woman in Dubai lifted

The Taoiseach has confirmed the travel ban against 28-year-old Tori Towey has just been lifted.

A ban preventing an Irish woman from leaving Dubai has been lifted.

Tori Towey from Boyle in Roscommon is facing potential jailtime for attempted suicide and drinking alcohol. 

It’s after she allegedly suffered domestic abuse at her home in the UAE. 

Speaking in the Dáil this lunchtime, the Taoiseach Simon Harris said:

“I’ve just been informed that the travel ban has been lifted and the embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go and that the embassy continues to follow up on the case which is still active as of now.”

Radha Stirling is from the Detained in Dubai group, and told us all eyes are now on the country:

“It’s embarassing for the country. I mean how does this make the UAE look to tourists and expats who might consider moving there or investing there, to treat a woman in this way.”

She added: “So I think hopefully as this escalates up the diplomatic channels in Dubai and perhaps up to Sheikh Mohammed the ruler, hopefully they will see that this does require a diplomat in Dubai to simply ring up the police and say ‘drop your case’, it’s very easy for them to do that.”

The Taoiseach Simon Harris told reporters this morning that he had spoken with Tori and her mother Caroline this morning. 

“It’s my absolute priority as the Taoiseach of this country to get Tori, an Irish citizen, to Roscommon,” he said.”Tori has, in my view, been through the most horrific situation. It is utterly unacceptable how an Irish citizen is being treated and that is mild language in terms of how I feel,” the Taoiseach added.

He said that a lot of diplomatic activity ongoing in the background, and Tánaiste Micheál Martin and the Irish ambassador were all helping with the case.