Traumatised Irish air hostess held in Dubai over ‘suicide attempt’ after attack by husband breaks silence on release
AN Irish victim of domestic violence who was detained by Dubai cops and charged with “attempted suicide” has spoken of her relief after being allowed to return home.
Tori Towey, 28, was facing criminal charges, including attempting suicide and consuming alcohol, following a brutal attack by her husband at their home in the United Arab Emirates.
The desperate Emirates Airlines flight attendant, from Boyle, Co Roscommon, pleaded for help from the Irish Government after she was taken to a police station and her passport blocked from use — despite her suffering a campaign of domestic abuse.
But following a diplomatic intervention from Ireland, the shocking travel ban imposed on Tori by Dubai authorities was today lifted, allowing her to fly home.
Traumatised Tori told the Irish Sun she was “totally overwhelmed” by the huge outpouring of support from Irish citizens amid her ordeal.
And she declared: “Thank you for the support. I really appreciate it.”
Frantic Tori had been facing jail time in Dubai after being charged over a bid to take her own life following the attack by her husband.
The young woman suffered severe bruising and other injuries.
But in the wake of the horrific domestic abuse, authorities in Dubai instead charged the assault victim with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption.
And rather than helping her return to Ireland, Tori was left trapped in Dubai after she was hit with a travel ban ahead of a scheduled court showdown next week.
She had been forced to stay in a rented apartment in Dubai with mum Caroline, who flew out to support her daughter.
With Tori due before court on the criminal charges next week, the worried Towey family had urged the Irish Government to intervene and help get her home to Ireland.
And in a major development on Wednesday, Taoiseach Simon Harris revealed that Dubai’s travel ban on Ms Towey had been lifted.
Delivering an update in “real time” in the Dail, Harris said: “I’ve just been informed that the travel ban has been lifted, that the embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go.”
Harris thanked the Irish embassy in the UAE for its work on the case, describing Tori’s ordeal as “unimaginable”.
He said: “A woman who has been a victim of a brutal attack found herself waking up not in hospital, but in a police station.”
The Taoiseach issued a special message of thanks to our embassy for its behind-the-scenes work on the case to get Tori free.
Charges withdrawn
Crusading lawyer and human rights campaigner Radha Stirling had first highlighted Tori’s plight.
Stirling today confirmed police in the UAE have now withdrawn the charges against Ms Towey and lifted the travel ban.
And the CEO of advocacy group Detained in Dubai told how the Roscommon native was “relieved and overjoyed”. Stirling told The Irish Sun: “Tori is absolutely over the moon.
“She is so grateful to the support of the Irish people, the media and the Irish Government, who I must commend for their swift response.
‘Lot of push by Ireland’
“Diplomatic conversations happened and developed quickly behind closed doors.
“There was a lot of push by Ireland over the past couple of days.
“Tori has been really overwhelmed in a good way with all the support she has received.
“She has been overwhelmed with how much genuine support she has got from Irish citizens, who had been ringing up their own local representatives saying ‘please help this woman’.
‘Amazed at support’
“Tori has been really, really amazed at the support from Irish people.
“And the Irish Government has really stepped in and responded tremendously quickly.
“It has felt like Ireland has come together and wrapped their arms around Tori.
“It really hit home with Dubai and forced them to make this decision (letting Tori return to Ireland).
‘Should never have happened’
“This should never have happened to Tori in the first place.
“She is a victim, it was outrageous that the UAE acted this way towards a woman, a victim of domestic violence.”
All charges against Tori have been dropped and the case closed.
Tori’s overjoyed relatives in Roscommon revealed they were planning a big homecoming party for their girl.
‘The best news ever’
Her aunt, Ann Flynn, beamed: “It’s amazing, you can’t believe the relief. But it’s amazing. The best news ever.”
And she praised both Government and opposition TDs for the “amazing” support they had given to their crisis-hit family.
Ann told how her stressed niece was facing “no light at the end of the tunnel” until dramatic diplomatic interventions from Ireland.
Tori’s family are now looking forward to starting “a new chapter with her”.
‘Life starts again’
Ann, who spoke to Tori’s mum Caroline on the phone after news broke that travel ban had been lifted, said: “Life starts again.
“It’s all our Christmases come together, we’re so excited and can’t wait to get the two home.”
Another aunt, Trish Beirne, called it “great news” that Tori was coming home and also paid tribute to friends in the Roscommon area who had offered support to the family.
Trish said: “Until the chips are down you don’t realise how good people are.”
Matter raised in Dail
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald had raised the matter in the Dail on Tuesday, telling how Tori was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband.
McDonald on Wednesday welcomed news of a breakthrough on Ms Towey’s travel ban while blasting the “medieval, grotesque treatment of women” in the UAE.
McDonald said: “I want to thank everyone for the huge support shown to Tori and Caroline over the last number of days.
“The ordeal Tori has been subjected to has been horrendous.
‘Absolutely frightening’ situation
“I know that Tori and her mum are deeply grateful for the solidarity and good will that has been shown towards them across Ireland. We now await their safe return to Ireland and to Roscommon.”
Sinn Fein Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane also pressed Micheal Martin for help to resolve Tori’s “absolutely frightening” situation.
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Martin paid tribute to the Irish Ambassador to the UAE, Alison Milton, for her role in solving the matter.
The Tanaiste told how Ms Milton and her team in the UAE had opened up “good channels of communication and engagement” with the Dubai authorities that had facilitated the lifting of the travel ban against Ms Towey.