An Irish air hostess who was detained in Dubai for an alleged suicide attempt after suffering brutal domestic violence has had a travel ban lifted and can return home.
Tori Towey, 28, a flight attendant from Co Roscommon, was charged with attempted suicide and alcohol abuse after waking up in a police station after the attack by her husband, Irish parliamentarians were told.
However, police in the United Arab Emirates have now withdrawn the charges against Towey, a lawyer working on her case has said.
Dubai authorities had also reportedly banned her from leaving the state, sparking fears she was headed for a jail term in an Emirati prison.
But Mr Harris said today: ‘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 of course will continue to follow up on the case, which is still active as of now.’
He thanked the Irish embassy in the United Arab Emirates for their work on the case.
It comes hours after Tori’s mother said she was ‘desperate to get home’ and has been through ‘the worst time of her life’.
Prior to 2019, anyone found guilty of attempting suicide in Dubai faced a 5000AED fine (£1050) or six months in prison.
The ‘offence’ was one of 28 ‘minor crimes’ downgraded to free up space in the Emirates’ overcrowded courts system.
Those found guilty of attempting suicide in the Gulf state now have to pay a fine of 1000AED (£210) instead of facing a judge.
In the same year, the Gulf state loosened its liquor laws to allow tourists to purchase alcohol in state-controlled stores, previously only accessible to licence-holding residents
The new laws also let visitors obtain liquor permits themselves for the first time, by applying online or going to a registered alcohol store to get one for free.
While visitors must have a permit, it’s no longer a criminal offence not to have one.
A 30 per cent tax on alcohol was also axed on New Year’s Eve 2022 to encourage tourists to flock to the Emirate.
While the relaxation of the laws sends a message that it’s safe to drink, the reality is more complicated.
It is illegal to drink or even be under the influence of alcohol in public outside of a licensed premises.
Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai previously told MailOnline: ‘Reducing the cost of alcohol in Dubai is sending a clear message to tourists and that is to drink. Considering Dubai’s alcohol laws prohibit the possession of alcohol in public, drinking in Dubai is inherently dangerous.
‘If a visitor’s blood is tested and shows up even one drink, they can be criminally charged. Alcohol tests are often conducted when a complaint is made by a local. If a local is offended by a visitor’s dress sense, language or behaviour, they may call the police and have the visitor arrested, even if that person has only consumed a small beer.
‘Dubai’s laws are highly contradictory. On the one hand, people are encouraged to drink but on the other, it’s a criminal offence to have any amount of alcohol in your blood in public. Encouraging visitors to drink more alcohol will most certainly result in increased detentions of Brits abroad in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and police brutality’.
Tori had been banned from leaving the UAE and told she faced jail for drinking alcohol and attempting to take her own life following the alleged beating by her husband.
Tori’s mum Caroline told MailOnline: ‘The support from the Irish government and the Irish people has been incredible and we weren’t expecting it at all. It’s a small country and the politicians are real people.
‘We are both exhausted and desperate to get home. Thank you so much to everyone supporting us.’
She added that her daughter had been through ‘the worst time of her life and needs to come home with me and heal’.
Tori’s aunt Ann Flynn also told Sky News: ‘She’s doing her best. It’s very stressful, stressful for all the family.
‘Tori’s a beautiful young woman, fun-loving, loves to travel. She got the job of her dreams working for Emirates, and she could continue travelling with work.’
‘It’s really terrible that this has happened to a young woman who was full of life and full of adventure.’
A spokesperson for legal group Detained in Dubai (DiD) claimed Tori’s South African husband went after her with a knife and punched her, before slamming her arm in the bathroom door trying to break it.
Tori said she tried to take her own life after the attack, which left her with severe bruises and injuries.
But after being taken to a police station, Ms Towey was facing charges of alcohol consumption and attempting suicide by a court in Dubai.
She said she was unable to leave the country as her passport had been blocked.
Speaking through outreach group DiD, who are assisting the family, Ms Towey said prior to the lifting of the travel ban: ‘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.’
The DiD said Ms Towey had faced a lengthy prison sentence in a jail known for ‘human rights abuses and torture’.
Radha Stirling, CEO of DiD, said: ‘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. She has been charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption.
‘Strangely, 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. Tori’s experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive.’
She explained: ‘Tori arranged to fly home to Ireland but, when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her by her husband 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. The next day, Tori and her husband had some wine and he became enraged, accusing her of having an affair.’
Ms Stirling explained: ‘The next thing she remembers is an ambulance crew and police waking her up. She was taken to Al Barsha police station and kept for several hours before going home again.
‘Her mother pleaded to the Irish Consulate but in the absence of their assistance, boarded a flight to Dubai. When she arrived, she wasn’t allowed to see Tori alone, her abuser wouldn’t allow it.
‘The three met at Emirates mall then attended the prosecutor’s office to find out what charges had been registered against her.’
Irish premier Harris said he would intervene in the ‘appalling’ case as Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Towey’s case in the Irish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Harris thanked Ms McDonald for bringing the case to his attention, saying: ‘I’m not directly appraised of the situation, but I’m very happy to be directly appraised of it now.’
He said he would work with the deputy ‘to intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be – based on what you tell me – the most appalling circumstances.
The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Daily Mail it was aware of the case and was offering consular assistance.
Ms McDonald told Dail Eireann that Ms Towey has been the victim of domestic violence and is subject to a travel ban over alleged charges.
She said she had spoken to Ms Towey, and that the 28-year-old’s mother travelled to Dubai to be with her.
‘Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She is a Roscommon woman and she wants to come home,’ she said.
In 2018, one member of Dubai Police said that they would focus on treatment rather than punishment when it came to suicide victims, even thought suicide and suicide attempts are a crime in the country.
Brig Ahmed bin Ghalaita, then director of Al Refaa Police Station, told The National: ‘The move is taken to provide support to suicide attempters and deal with them as victims who need moral support and help.
‘Suicide cases are being examined by a police unit and experts in the psychology field to identify the causes behind their attempts and find solutions for them.’
It comes as earlier this year, British wives boasting of luxury new lives funded by millionaire husbands in Dubai have been warned they risk being dumped homeless on the streets at any moment.
Experts have revealed a surge in complaints from not only women but also men betrayed and dumped by wealthy partners after upping sticks for the Middle East.
The alert comes amid a TikTok and Instagram trend of UK women sharing footage of spending sprees in the United Arab Emirates after wedding wealthy husbands.
There had also been reports of an influx of expats pampered by rich partners, enjoying days filled with shopping trips, extravagant meals and property upgrades.
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