Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that an Irish air hostess who is trapped in Dubai after a travel ban was put on her is the “victim of the most gross domestic violence”.
Raising the case of 28-year-old Roscommon woman Tori Towey, McDonald addressed Dáil Eireann saying, “Her passport has been destroyed, her passport has been destroyed, there was a travel ban imposed on her.”
McDonald called on Taoiseach Simon Harris to intervene “immediately” and to make contact with the Ambassador of Dubai in Ireland calling the situation “an emergency”.
“She had gone to the authorities seeking protection many times but to absolutely no avail.”
“But following one particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to slam doors on her arms and break her limbs, she escaped upstairs and she attempted to take her own life.”
“Unfortunately, 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 when I spoke to her this afternoon,”.
“Her mother, Caroline, has travelled to be with her.”
The advocacy group Detained in Dubai claims that Towey attempted to obtain a new passport after her original one was destroyed and in the process became aware that a travel ban had been put on her by Dubai authorities.
“Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She is a Roscommon woman and she wants to come home,” she said.
“I am asking now, as a matter of absolute urgency, that we have a statement from this House, that you intervene Taoiseach, that the ambassador is called and that it is made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way, and an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way.” McDonald said.
She added that Towey had been a victim “of the most gross domestic violence”.
“Her passport has been destroyed and a travel ban was imposed on her. She had gone to the authorities seeking protection many times but to absolutely no avail.”
Ms McDonald said that “following one particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to slam doors on her arms and break her limbs, she escaped upstairs and attempted to take her own life”.
Gript contacted the embassy of Dubai in relation to the case of Ms, Towey advising them of our deadline, however we are yet to receive a response.
The family are being assisted by advocacy group Detained in Dubai.
Speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland this morning, Towey’s aunt, Ann Flynn, said that she hopes to hear that her sister and niece are on a plane home.
“I don’t know will this court case go ahead, or if it does what will happen? We’re just very hopeful,” she said.
“It’s really terrible that this has happened to a young woman who was full of life and full of adventure, and loved travelling.”
Flynn added, “They’re both trying to keep positive, we’re trying to keep positive as well, but it’s on your mind constantly and I’m sure it’s on their minds … it’s so far away.”
Speaking on the same program, CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling said, “I think when it comes to a case like this, it’s all about diplomacy. Without the support of the Irish Government, she would be likely to face prison and charges and deportation.”