A Dublin man detained in an Italian prison since his arrest during G8 summit protests in Genoa more than two weeks ago was released yesterday. He was expected to return home last night.
Mr Joe Moffatt (30), from Drimnagh, Dublin, was released shortly after noon and was booked on to an Air France flight from Genoa to Dublin. He was due in Dublin at 9.40 p.m.
His girlfriend, Ms Rena Nagle, from Walkinstown, said she was "absolutely relieved" at his release. Ms Nagle spoke to Mr Moffatt, a masters student in media studies at the Dublin Institute of Technology, for the first time since his arrest yesterday afternoon when he telephoned her from Genoa Airport. "He's in very good form," she said.
"He said one of the bones in his arm is not sitting right. He also said his back is sore. He was apparently given a good going over when he was arrested."
When arrested on July 22nd, Mr Moffatt, who had travelled to Genoa for the G8 protests, was charged with resisting arrest and possession of a weapon - a Swiss army knife.
Ms Nagle said her boyfriend had never been in trouble and the knife was only being used as a bottle opener. "He was a peaceful protester and was completely and utterly unlucky," she said.
She said the charges against him still stood and the results of forensic tests carried out on the Swiss army knife were still awaited. If a case against him proceeds, he might have to return to Italy to defend his good name, she said.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it telephoned the Italian foreign ministry last Friday to raise the possibility of speeding up his case.