An Irish stewardess who was held in Dubai for ‘attempting suicide’ after being ‘beaten by her husband’ has landed in Ireland after charges against her were withdrawn.
A beaming Tori Towey, 28, said she is ‘so relieved’ to be home as she flew into Dublin Airport today with her mother Caroline. ‘I’m just so thankful and so grateful to be back’.
She expressed her gratitude to those who helped her get home, including the Irish embassy and the media. ‘Without you guys, I wouldn’t be here right now’, she told journalists.
She continued to call her native Ireland ‘an amazing country’, adding that ‘I feel bad for people who don’t have the support that we have. We are such a tight country and we have each other’s backs.’
‘I’m so emotional’, she said.
Tori Towey, 28, said she is ‘so relieved’ to be home as she flew into Dublin Airport today after she had been held in Dubai on charges for attempting to commit suicide and drinking alcohol
The young flight attendant told journalists at the airport that the past few weeks have been ‘tiring mentally’
Tori Towey, 28, was charged with attempting suicide and had a travel ban imposed on her by Dubai authorities. She has now arrived in Dublin after having her charges dropped
The young flight attendant told journalists at the airport that the past few weeks have been ‘tiring mentally’, as she recalled being stuck in Dubai, explaining how she did not know ‘what was going to happen’.
‘I’m back now, and I’m excited to be home and see my family’, she added.
This comes after Ms Towey, the flight attendant from County Roscommon, woke up in a police station in Dubai after she was attacked by her South African husband.
Police in the United Arab Emirates charged the young woman with alcohol abuse and attempted suicide which she was due to fight in court later this month.
Her passport was banned, preventing Ms Towey from returning home to her family in Ireland and sparking fears she was headed towards a jail term in an Emirati prison.
Tori Towey was pictured with extensive bruises over her body, which she says were from an assault
Tori Towey pictured left with her aunt, had been banned from leaving the UAE and was told she faced jail for drinking alcohol and attempting to take her own life
Ms Towey moved to the UAE in April 2023 when she began work as a flight attendant with Emirates Airlines. She got married to a South African man and they had been living together until it alleged their relationship became abusive
But a campaign group working on her case has confirmed that the charges have been withdrawn, the travel ban lifted and that Ms Towey is ‘relieved’ to be heading home.
In a statement, the Government of Dubai’s media office said: ‘Dubai Public Prosecution has 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.’
Speaking about her travel ban being lifted Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling said: ‘She is thrilled and relieved. She said she is over the moon and looking forward to getting home to Ireland and seeing the rest of her family.
‘She is a little nervous too because there is that worry that something could happen before she gets on a plane but the overriding feeling is one of joy.’
Ms Towey’s family had thanked the Irish government and campaigners for their help, with her mum Caroline telling MailOnline the support ‘has been incredible’.
Caroline said: ‘The support from the Irish government and the Irish people has been incredible and we weren’t expecting it at all. It’s a small country and the politicians are real people.
‘We are both exhausted and desperate to get home. Thank you so much to everyone supporting us.’
She added that her daughter had been through ‘the worst time of her life and needs to come home with me and heal’.
Tori’s aunt Ann Flynn also told Sky News: ‘She’s doing her best. It’s very stressful, stressful for all the family.
‘Tori’s a beautiful young woman, fun-loving, loves to travel. She got the job of her dreams working for Emirates, and she could continue travelling with work.’
‘It’s really terrible that this has happened to a young woman who was full of life and full of adventure.’
The 28-year-old had moved to UAE in April 2023 when she was offered a job as a flight attendant. She got married to a South African man and they had been living together until it is alleged that their relationship became abusive.
More to follow.