Taoiseach’s vow as Ibrahim verdict due
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar will speak to the Egyptian President to ask that Ibrahim Halawa be allowed to return home.
The Dubliner has spent four years in a Cairo jail following his arrest during a 2013 protest and his long-delayed trial is due to reach a verdict tomorrow.
Egyptian authorities had sought to try Mr Halawa in a mass trial involving 500 defendants but progress has been made in recent cases.
Mr Varadkar said: “Certainly the government is very keen to insure that Ibrahim Halawa can return to Ireland as soon as possible
“The Egyptian government has always said they cannot interfere in a trial in the same way an Irish government cannot interfere in the court process.
“We will do everything we can to enable him to come home.
“We’ve had false dawns in the past, it’s been four years now, and I’m wary about raising expectations.
“But certainly the Government cares about this case and we’ll do everything we can to allow Ibrahim to return to Ireland and resume his studies.”