Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced the uplift of the travel restriction that barred Irish national Tori Towey from departing Dubai . The Irish Embassy in UAE is set to assist her to the airport for her journey back to Ireland when she chooses to do so.
According to campaigners, Towey, a 28-year-old flight attendant, was implicated under stringent local laws despite reportedly being the one assaulted at her place.
Activists fighting for human rights have voiced that following hospital care for grave bruising and injuries, Towey desired to exit the Gulf nation but was prevented from doing so.
In his address to the Dail, Mr Harris declared, "I've just been informed that the travel ban has been lifted. The Embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go. The Embassy of course will continue to follow the case which is still active as of now."
Prior to the confirmation about the revoked travel restriction, the Taoiseach asserted that Ms Towey should be seen as a "victim" rather than a "criminal".
He acknowledged having conversations with both Tori and her mother Caroline in the preceding hours.
Harris conveyed to the Dail, "An Irish woman, an Irish citizen, has been a victim of horrific male violence, has been the victim of the most brutal, horrific attack one can imagine."
"After enduring that horrific brutal attack, Tori Towey didn't wake up in a hospital being supported and cared for and loved. She woke up in a police station. We want Tori Towey back in this country. We want her back home in Roscommon, that's what she wants as well."
The Taoiseach said he had spoken to Ms Towey and her mother and told them getting her home was "a priority issue".
He has also been in contact with the Ambassador in the United Arab Emirates and that she and the Embassy are "working extraordinarily hard on this matter".
Mr Harris added: "No effort will be spared by us, by Ireland, to make progress on this matter and to get Tori Towey home."
"She doesn't need to come home after a court case because she is not a criminal. She is a victim of gender-based violence. We expect her to be able to return here to Ireland as an Irish citizen without delay."
Speaking under privilege, Ms McDonald told the Dail that Ms Towey had gotten married last March.
"Since then, Tori has been subjected to sustained and brutal domestic violence and abuse," she said.
"When she went to the authorities to seek help, instead of being protected, she was sent home with her husband. Her husband then destroyed her passport so she couldn't travel and she couldn't work. She couldn't come back to Ireland."
"Tori was, in effect, held captive by her abuser."
"Just over two weeks ago, she endured a particularly vicious beating. Her husband repeatedly slammed doors on her arms trying to break her limbs and he tried to strangle her. "She fled upstairs in a desperate attempt to escape the violence and in desperation, she tried to take her own life.
"When Tori came to, she was surrounded by paramedics but instead of being taken to a hospital, she was taken to a police station."
"There she was charged with attempted suicide and alcohol abuse. Tori was placed in a cell with 50 other women. She wasn't told what she was charged with. She wasn't given any information at all."
"Tori was released on bail but her passport was blocked. She is banned from leaving the state."
Ms McDonald urged Mr Harris to act quickly as "once the Dubai court process kicks in, it becomes harder and harder to get Tori back home to Ireland quickly."
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