Sister of Irishman Ibrahim Halawa urges Government to bring him home safe from Egypt and forget about using their jet
Sources have indicated that the Cabinet has agreed a plan to send their Learjet to Egypt to bring the 21-year-old back
A SISTER of Ibrahim Halawa has urged the Government to bring him home safe from Cairo and forget about using their jet.
Sources have indicated that the Cabinet has agreed a plan to send their Learjet to Egypt to bring the 21-year-old back.
Dubliner Ibrahim is waiting for formalities to be completed before he is free after four years in an Egyptian jail.
Ibrahim, from Firhouse, Co Dublin, was locked up in “pre trial detention” following his arrest during a protest at an Egyptian mosque in 2013.
He was finally acquitted of charges, including murder, at a mass trial with 473 others last Monday — clearing the path for him to return home. The Learjet costs €12,000 an hour to mobilise, so the total bill could come to €132,000 for the 11-hour return trip.
Among those to question using the Government jet were Cork 96 Opinion Line presenter PJ Coogan who tweeted: “Well sorry now, but there are flights out of Cairo to LHR/LGW & on to DUB every day. Is there any need for this?”
But the Halawa family said they have not been informed of such plans. Sister Noseyba told the Irish Sun: “People are making a big issue about the jet and we as a family have not heard anything about it.
“I welcome any help from the Government to bring my brother home safe but it does not have to be the jet. If he is coming in a normal airplane, as long as he is safe why not?”
MOST READ IN NEWS
Noseyba also praised the input of Leo Varadkar and the current Cabinet in helping to secure Ibrahim’s freedom.
She said: “I thank everyone who supported my brother.”