Co Roscommon woman Tori Towey said she was grateful and “relieved” as she arrived in Ireland on Thursday following her ordeal in Dubai.
The 28-year-old landed at Dublin Airport shortly after noon, accompanied by her mother Caroline, and spoke to the media shortly afterwards, saying she “could not believe” she had made it back after fearing it might not happen.
The Emirates airline cabin crew worker had been banned from leaving Dubai after being charged with attempted suicide and illegally consuming alcohol by authorities in the United Arab Emirates.
The Dáil earlier this week heard she had suffered sustained domestic violence and abuse since marrying her husband in March. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the matter, prompting Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin to intervene. Ms Towey was also assisted by the Detained in Dubai advocacy organisation.
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“I’m just so relieved,” she told reporters at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport. “I can’t believe it. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone, the embassy, the ambassador, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Mary Lou McDonald, obviously the media,” she said.
Ms Towey said she “wouldn’t be here without you all and the support of the Irish people, we are an amazing country”.
“The ambassador was the first person we got on to. I’m just so thankful and grateful.”
[ Behind the luxury image, Dubai’s laws and customs create issues for expatriatesOpens in new window ]
Ms Towey said the last number of weeks had been “tiring mentally” for her due to “being stuck” in Dubai.
“Obviously when my mother came out to me that was a massive help. Not knowing anything, not knowing what was going to happen. I’m back now and excited to see my family,” she said.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen. It was only between yesterday and today that I got clarity [on what was happening] because I wasn’t getting any answers. I’m just glad to be back and I’m obviously so thankful as well to my amazing family and friends. They have been going through everything with me. They’ve been keeping me strong.”
Ms Towey said her plans for the immediate future were to go home, see her family and rest.
Her mother Caroline said the family had experienced a “bit of a nightmare” while Tori was stuck in Dubai and she was “delighted to have her home”.
“We couldn’t sleep but once the whole thing [matter was highlighted] and the media and Oireachtas helped we were bombarded with lots of messages and support,” she said.
“A huge thanks to the country, our politicians, our people, our Ambassador and all of her staff. We are so thankful. We want to get home, get our heads together and move on.”
The Dubai government on Wednesday 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″.
[ Behind the luxury image, Dubai’s laws and customs create issues for expatriatesOpens in new window ]
“The couple reached a reconciliation and withdrew the complaints filed against each other,” it said. “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.”
Commenting on the case, the Taoiseach said he was “extremely frustrated that an Irish citizen found themselves in this position”.
“We talk about zero tolerance in this country towards any sort of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and I want to be clear to countries right around the world [that] we extend that zero tolerance to any of our citizens no matter where they are based in this world,” he said.
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