Flight attendant, 28, charged with trying to end her life in Dubai after ‘attack’
‘Tori wants to come home, simple as that.'
An Irish air hostess is trapped in Dubai after being charged with trying to end her life following alleged domestic abuse.
Tori Towey, 28, from Boyle in County Roscommon, claims she was attacked in her home and is now banned from leaving the state.
Her husband lunged at her with a knife before punching her and using the bathroom door to try and smash her arm, according to legal group Detained in Dubai (DiD).
A spokesperson for the group claims the Emirates cabin crew member then tried to take her own life after the assault, which left her with severe bruising.
She has now been charged with alcohol consumption and attempting suicide and is unable to return home after her passport was blocked.
Speaking to the Irish Sun from a rented property where she is staying with her mum Caroline, Tori said: ‘I’m glad I’m with my mother now but I don’t know what’s going to happen in court next week.
‘I’m desperate to go home to Ireland and put all of this in the past. I’m asking the Taoiseach to please help us.’
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: ‘We are calling on Dubai authorities to urgently drop the charges against Tori, remove the travel ban and let her fly home to Ireland with her mother.
‘She has been charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption”, said Ms Stirling.
‘Strangely, the UAE has gone to great public relations efforts to promote alcohol as legal in the country. In reality, people are still regularly charged with alcohol consumption and possession.
‘Tori’s experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive.’
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Towey’s case in the Irish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
‘Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She is a Roscommon woman, and she wants to come home,’ she said.
‘I am asking now, as a matter of absolute urgency, that we have a statement from this House, that you intervene Taoiseach, that the ambassador is called and that it is made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way, and an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way.’
Irish premier Simon Harris responded saying he was not aware of Ms Towey’s case, and thanked Ms McDonald for bringing it to his attention and that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin.
He pledged to work ‘to intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be, based on what you tell me, the most appalling circumstances’.
Tori’s case is expected in court on July 18, and she has been warned she faces a possible jail term, Sky News reports.
Talking to Sky News, her aunt Ann Flynn said: ‘She’s doing her best.’
She added: ‘It’s very stressful, it’s stressful for all the family.’ She described her niece as ‘a beautiful young woman’ who is ‘fun-loving and loved to travel’.
Ms Flynn said: ‘She got the job of her dreams working for Emirates, and she could continue travelling with work. She loved Dubai, and had a good network of friends there.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you're a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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