Tori Towey breaks silence with emotional message after return to Ireland

Tori Towey told how she was “so relieved” to be home and thanked supporters as she landed back in Ireland yesterday.

The airline stewardess – who was prevented from leaving Dubai and temporarily held in custody by police – said she feared she might be stuck in the Middle East and “didn’t know what was going to happen”.

Tori, 28, was charged with attempted suicide and consuming alcohol in the UAE after her husband allegedly beat her and she attempted to take her own life.

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However, following intervention from the Irish Government, authorities in Dubai dropped the charges on Wednesday and Tori landed into Dublin Airport at 12.20pm yesterday.

Her emotional aunt Ann Flynn held pink and gold balloons as she welcomed her niece and her mother Caroline back after the ordeal.

Tori shed a few tears as she spoke to reporters at Terminal 2’s arrival gate.

She said: “I am so relieved, I can’t believe it, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone, the embassy, the ambassador, the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Mary Lou McDonald, Claire Kerrane, the media, without you guys I wouldn’t be here right now.

“Without the support of the Irish people this wouldn’t have been possible.

“This is an amazing country and I feel bad for people that don’t have that support that we have, we have each other’s back.”

Tori said she “can’t believe” how quickly she was able to return home after being detained.

She added: “I am so emotional. It has been tiring, mentally, being stuck in the country.

“When my mother came out to me it was a massive help but it was the unknown, not knowing anything, not knowing what was about to happen.”

Asked if she feared she would never get home, Tori said: “I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s only between yesterday and today that I got clarity.

“I’m just glad to be back, I’m so thankful to my amazing family and friends going through everything with me and keeping me strong.”

The Roscommon native said she is most excited to see her family, and rest.

She added: “I’m back now and I’m excited to get home and see my family. I’m going home to see my family, see my friends, and sleep.”

Holding back tears, her mother Caroline said the whole ordeal has been “a nightmare”.

She said: “Once it kicked off we got bombarded with messages of support. Huge thanks to the country, to our
politicians, to our people, to our ambassador, all her staff, for the amazing work they have done for us.

“It is a nightmare, a real nightmare, but it’s over now, and we just have to go home and get our heads together and move on.”

The family is planning a big homecoming for Ms Towey once she is settled. Her aunt previously told the Irish Mirror: “We will have a homecoming and when they’re feeling better we will have a big family get together to celebrate them.

“But we want to let them get home first and see how things go and what they want to do.”

Tori was working as a flight attendant with an airline based in Dubai when she was allegedly a victim of domestic abuse.

Speaking after her arrival into Dublin Airport, she also thanked human rights advocate and lawyer Radha Stirling from Detained In Dubai, who assisted her case. Taking to social media yesterday, Ms Stirling wrote: “Just received a call from Tori Towey and her ecstatic family.

“So privileged to share the moment! Thank god she’s home.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is “so glad” that Ms Towey is home after the horrific treatment she received.

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He added: “No Irish citizen should ever have to endure what you did and no woman should ever have to experience violence and abuse.

“Zero tolerance for gender-based violence in all circumstances and in all parts of the world.”

Speaking at Dublin Castle yesterday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said what happened to Ms Towey was “absolutely horrific. What happened to that woman? It doesn’t bear thinking about it.

“She gets beaten up. Instead of going to the hospital, they send her to a prison. It’s just horrific.”

Asked if she believes people from Ireland should still travel to Dubai,

Minister Humphreys said: “It is up to people what they want to do. People go on holiday there. But of course, you’re going to a country where some of the laws regarding women are somewhat different to the laws in this country.”

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