Ibrahim Halawa should not have waited this long for justice – Brophy

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South-West, Colm Brophy, has said Ibrahim Halawa should not have been locked up for more than four years in Egypt before being acquitted on all charges in court today.

Deputy Brophy, who was a member of an Oireachtas delegation who visited the Irish man in jail last January, said while today’s verdict was extremely welcome, it should have arrived at a far earlier date.

“Ibrahim has been imprisoned since August 2013 – 37 months ago. He has been tormented and teased by the Egyptian court system with numerous court dates repeatedly adjourned. An innocent Irishman was jailed for more than four years and was today acquitted of all charges. He should not have had to wait this long,” Deputy Brophy said.

“I want to thank the efforts of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the previous Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and his predecessor Charlie Flanagan as well as the diplomatic officials who have all been involved in attempting to expedite the process to have Ibrahim returned home to Dublin.

“The Egyptian justice system moves extremely slowly, numerous adjournments to Ibrahim’s case have caused great anguish and pain for his family in Tallaght,” Deputy Brophy said.

“Today’s verdict is proof that Ibrahim and his sisters never committed any wrong doing or broke any laws in Egypt in 2013. Their innocence has been confirmed.

“Our priority in Fine Gael and government now is ensuring that Ibrahim is reunited with his family in Dublin as soon as possible,” he added.

ENDS