United Arab Emirates (UAE) police have dropped charges against Irish flight attendant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tori Towey, a lawyer assisting her case said. Her case reached the Irish parliament

The 28-year-old, who works as a flight attendant for an airline based in Dubai, was facing charges including attempted suicide and drinking alcohol and remained trapped in the area after the authorities had taken her passport and banned her from leaving the country, as she attempted to kill herself, having previously consumed a large amount of alcohol, since it was allegedly a matter of domestic violence.

“The charges against Tori Towey have been officially dropped by Dubai Police and the travel ban has been lifted. Tori and her mother are both “over the moon” and we are forever grateful for the widespread support from the public, media and Irish government! We hope that her passage through the airport will go smoothly and that no further attempts will be made to keep her in the country. Well done Ireland!” Radha Stirling, a lawyer and human rights activist who runs the group Detained in Dubai, wrote on Platform X.

The travel ban is lifted

Earlier, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the 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 told the lower house of the Irish parliament.

The Irish Prime Minister has pledged to intervene on Tori Towey’s behalf. Earlier, the head of government said it was “totally, totally unacceptable how an Irish citizen is being treated”.

Mr Harris also said he had spoken to Ms Towey and her mother, who is with her in the United Arab Emirates.

He went on to say that Ms Towey had been “a victim of male violence”.

“What Tori went through is, I think, unimaginable to so many people here in this country, that a woman who had been the victim of a brutal attack found herself waking up not in a hospital, but in a police station,” he said.

“We want to start a new chapter”

On Wednesday, Ann Flynn, 28-year-old Towey’s aunt, told a BBC program that Tori and her whole family had been through a huge ordeal, but she hoped the end was now in sight.

“The lifting of the travel ban is a huge relief, I actually couldn’t believe it when I heard it,” Ms Flynn said.

“I hope he’ll be home tomorrow.”

Ms Flynn praised everyone who helped bring her niece’s case to light.

“When they get to Ireland, it will be a great relief,” he said.

“We just want her home, we just want to start a new chapter with her,” she noted.

Skai.gr, BBC news