Irish airline worker banned from leaving Dubai and facing charges after being attacked in home

Tori Towey (28) suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment, according to Detained in Dubai.

The advocacy group have urged the Irish government to intervene to have the charges against her dropped and to allow her to travel home.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai described the case and the travel ban against Ms Towey as “outrageous.”

“Tori’s experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive”, added Stirling who has helped in numerous domestic violence cases including that of Princess Latifa.

“It’s amazing that authorities did not intervene for Tori’s protection, given the state her body was in when she was hospitalised the first time.”

“Worse than failing her, authorities in Dubai actually travel-banned her and kept her in the country when she was trying to get away.”

“The UAE used to charge rape victims with sex outside marriage. Now they’re charging domestic violence victims with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption.”

“We are calling on Dubai authorities to urgently drop the charges against Tori, remove the travel ban and let her fly home to Ireland with her mother.

“We are also calling on Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris, the head of Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Ambassador Alison Milton and local TD’s, Michael Fitzmaurice, Claire Kerrane & Denis Naughten as well as the UAE’s Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mohammed Hmoud Hamad Rahma Alshamsi to help bring Tori home.”

The 28-year-old Emirates Airlines cabin crew employee, now faces lengthy imprisonment in jails which are notorious for human rights abuses and torture, according to Detained in Dubai.

Tori from Boyle in Co Roscommon made the move to Dubai in April 2023 when she was offered a job with Emirates Airlines.

Emirates Airlines gave her time off work to recover after she suffered the injuries at her home, it was added.

The human rights campaigners said that when replacing her passport, Ms Towey found out there was a travel ban against her but wasn’t sure why.

She arranged to fly home to Ireland but when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her had been dropped but the travel ban remained.

“She attended the police station who assured her the travel ban would be lifted but it never happened. She was stuck”.

Tori was told nothing could be done and that the cases against her were going to court on the 18th of July, according to Detained in Dubai.

“The UAE has gone to great public relations efforts to promote alcohol as legal in the country. In reality, people are still regularly charged with alcohol consumption and possession,” said Stirling.