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IBRAHIM HALAWA IS not facing murder charges, it has emerged.
It had been reported that the Tallaght man – who was arrested more than a year-and-a-half ago during a protest in Cairo – was facing charges of murder, attempted murder and participating in an illegal protest.
New information
Today, the Taoiseach said that according to information recently received by the embassy from Ibrahim Halawa’s legal team, not all of the defendants are facing identical charges.
This had originally been thought to be the case and was “a key cause of concern”, said Kenny.
He elaborated:
It now appears that there are different charges against different defendants within the group trial and that Ibrahim Halawa is one of a relatively large group of defendants facing more preliminary charges related to events at the al-Fatah mosque
These are:
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister are seeking clarification of the exact charges against Ibrahim and examining what this change may mean, said Kenny.
“In the meantime, and on the face of it, the new information would seem to be a somewhat positive development,” said Kenny.
Progress in the case
Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about progress in respect of the Halawa case.
The Taoiseach said that the objectives in this case “are very clear”.
The first is to see Mr Halawa released by the Egyptian authorities so he can return to his family and studies here in Ireland. The second is to provide consular support to secure his welfare while he remains in detention.
Kenny said that where an Irish citizen is charged with an offence under the law of a foreign country and is imprisoned in that country, it is the foreign law that applies.
The decision to release Halawa either on bail or on any other basis will be made solely by the Egyptian authorities.
Consular support
“Since he was detained originally in August 2013 he has received consular visits on 37 different occasions,” said Kenny.
I can confirm that the Irish Government has formally supported both the application of his lawyers for his release and his return to Ireland under the November presidential decree and the more recent application for his release on bail.
He added that: “Unfortunately, the application for release on bail was rejected at the most recent hearing of his case”.
“The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has been in ongoing and continuous personal contract with his Egyptian counterpart.”
The next hearing in the trial is scheduled for 3 June.
The Taoiseach said that “any inappropriate escalation of political intervention could well be counterproductive to our objectives in this case and to Mr Halawa’s best interests”.
The Taoiseach also said that “no other consular case is receiving greater attention in the Minister, Deputy Flanagan’s Department at this time than the Halawa case”.
In response to Deputy Paul Murphy, Kenny said that Ireland has made clear its continued concerns about the human rights situation in Egypt in general.
Regarding calls for him to intervene, Kenny said he keeps “in very close contact with the Minister, Deputy Flanagan” about the matter and is “very conscious of the need not to escalate this in the wrong way”.
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Scrap it. Abysmal show.
Very disappointed as a senior citizen I’m not interested in watching tonight..
What a pointless article. Numerous examples of good chat shows with many fans. The reason RTE and the Late Late Show is so dreadful is largely because of RTE’s cozy collusion with the government of the day. They have an agenda which dictates the guests, the content and the message. It’s 2 hours of fluff and essentially a form of propaganda. And to think they used to pay Tubridy €700,000 a year, it tells you all you need to know. Also keep in mind your government recently allocated E250 million a year to RTE for the next 3 years, despite the recent scandals, again, alleging corruption and cronyism at RTE. They are giving your tax euros and TV licence fee to an organisation that then attempts to brainwash you!
@Paddy Short: while I don’t disagree with the show not being great to put in perspective – Graham Norton gets 3million a year with the bbc… brainwashing and propaganda point is a bit tinfoil hat-ish. They try a variety show but doesn’t work on the format. You need a charismatic host (Patrick Kielty is awkward and not charismatic) and you need good acts that are relevant. Act booking is a pretty bad when they have no names and non interesting stories (and can be depressing). It should be fun and easy and chill like the Graham Norton show which proves that type of show is successful. Nobody wants to hear about another child abuse survivor on a Friday evening when they are trying to chill.
Does anyone know why the comments are closed here in relation to both of the articles covering Meehole Martin’s unwarranted, comments in the case of the death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier? I have long regarded Meehole as a dope but he has reached new lows of dope hood with this one. He has impugned the integrity of the Garda investigation, cut across the independence of the DPP and implicitly found a man who was not charged with her murder guilty of the same. In any functioning democracy this idiot would be chastised by the Head of Government and asked to resign for such a transgression. But this is Meehole so it’s alright.
@Minnie Mouse: so true
@Minnie Mouse: Totally agree with you, the man has reached a new low regarding this.
@Minnie Mouse: Your last sentence says it all. You are talking through it.
Unless you’re able to attract/pay for actual celebrities you’re left with bottom of the barrel types, which is what we’ve had the last number of years. It’s stale. Rte are right not to pay big bucks to land the same standard of guests as Graham Norton, but then you’re left with a show that has very little else to offer. It should be scrapped apart from the toy show.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I don’t think Daniel O Donnell would appreciate you calling him the bottom of the barrel.
@Dave Barrett: daniel is not even in the barrel he is the barrel,,,
@Dave Barrett: But he is!
It’s never been the same since Gaybo!
@ Minnie Mouse. Couldn’t agree more. He is exposing himself as a spoofer and a liar.
The “investigation” of the murder of Sophie Du Plantier was a f up a la the Kerry Babies and rather than posthumously taking a cheap shot at Ian Bailey he should call out the Gardai involved.
D O’D. Sweet sufferin Succotash! I’ll stay in the kitchen and watch the tumble dryer!
Surface level interviews of people seem redundant in the internet age when the same people are posting on social media and half a dozen youtubers have probably interviewed them asking the same questions already.
It’s a nice reminder of what old television was and people will miss it when it’s gone but it’s definitely hard to call it relevant anymore.
A sure some people like it, I think the older stay at home folks tune and enjoy it.
@Ned: I’m of that older generation having been around on this earth for last 65 years I certainly haven’t watched the late late in years I’ve no intention of going outa my way to waste my Fri night on it we have been warned and it gave me time to did out my add free telly 4 the night with loads a sports to enjoy 4 the weekend other than rtes rubbish been passed off as quality entertainment
@Ned: as one of the older generation I haven’t watched it in years. Tuned out during the Pat Kenny era
@liam ward: be god lad looks like you don’t like it or rte but some people do wat h I hear.
@Rebekah Corbett: ya I hear ya, haven’t watched it myself in years so didn’t know it was that bad yikes,
@Ned: No Ned we dont. Well at least I dont. I cant stand the Late Late show
Thank God I’ve prerecorded Jools Holland, can’t stomach the Late Late
I’d prefer inhale the farts out of the cinema seats than subject myself to watching that
@Johnny King: or have your Micky bitten off, as in your avatar. Painful! But not as painful as watching the late late
This is the 3rd article today on this completely 5H1Te show ,
Nobody what’s to watch this total rubbish from rte
Time for it to go. Hold a toy show once year with different hosts. Only time people watch it.
have your say