Tori Towey's nightmare nearly over as Dubai police make major update to attempted suicide charge

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) police have dropped the charges against Irish woman Tori Towey , according to a lawyer involved in her case.

Towey, a 28-year-old from Roscommon who had been working as a flight attendant based in Dubai, the largest city in the UAE, was facing charges including attempted suicide and alcohol consumption , and her passport had been confiscated.

Radha Stirling, a lawyer and human rights advocate who runs the Detained in Dubai group, said Ms Towey and her mother were "over the moon" at the news.

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"We are ever grateful for widespread support of the public, the media and the Irish government," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We hope her transit at the airport will go smoothly and that no further attempts will be made to keep her in the country."

Earlier, Taoiseach Simon Harris, Irish Prime Ministerm announced that a travel ban preventing Ms Towey from leaving the UAE had been lifted.

"The embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go," he informed the Dail, the lower house of Irish parliament.

"The embassy will of course continue to follow up on the case which is still active as of now... and to thank our embassy for the work in relation to that".

On Wednesday, Ann Flynn, Ms Towey's aunt, told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today: "The travel ban being lifted is a huge relief, I didn't actually quite believe it when I heard it. Hopefully they will be home tomorrow. They haven't actually got a flight sorted yet and we are just waiting to hear next steps."

She also extended her gratitude to everyone who supported her niece's cause.

"When they arrive in Ireland, it will be such a Page 2 of 3relief," she added.

"We just want her home, we just want to start a new chapter with her."