Dubai drops charges against County Roscommon woman

The Dubai Public Prosecution service has dropped charges against County Roscommon woman Tori Towey.

Ms Towey (28), from the Ballaghaderreen/Boyle area moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city last year. She had been prevented from leaving the country as a result of the charges.

On Tuesday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil that Ms Towey was the victim of domestic violence and was subjected to a travel ban over allegations she illegally consumed alcohol and attempted suicide. Attempted suicide is a crime in the Arab state, carrying a sentence of up to six months.

A statement from the Dubai Government to The Irish Times said it had “closed the case involving Irish national Tori Towey after she and her husband, a South African national, were involved in a case featuring mutual charges of assault, dating back to May 2024. The couple reached a reconciliation and withdrew the complaints filed against each other.

“Dubai Public Prosecution has also dropped the charges of attempted suicide against her considering the circumstances of the case and to enable her to return to normal life,” the statement said.

Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dáil the travel ban on Ms Towey had been lifted and arrangements were being made to fly Tori and her mother home.

Local Sinn Fein DD Claire Kerrane said that she was “delighted and relieved that Tori will now come home. This is wonderful news after what has been a living nightmare for her and her family. I spoke to Tori and her mother earlier this morning and at that point, nothing had changed but they had noted a big change in engagement and contact from the Embassy once we raised her case. Everyone played their part here and did so to ensure right prevailed - it has. I look forward to seeing Tori come home,” said Deputy Kerrane.

The Taoiseach said it was a situation that "should never have happened".

Speaking to RTÉ's Six One News, he said Ms Towey had been the victim of a "brutal attack" and she should have been supported.

"Imagine having endured that and waking up not in a hospital being supported and cared for, but in a police station," he said.

"This is a deplorable situation and it never should have happened."

The Taoiseach said that when he last spoke with Ms Towey she and her mother were making arrangements to get to the airport and get on a flight.

He thanked Ms McDonald and Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane for raising the matter, saying it was important that "on rare occassions politicians can actually work together".