Woman ‘trapped in Dubai and dealing with jail’ after making an attempt to take her life
An Irish air stewardess is trapped in Dubai and facing jail after drinking alcohol and trying to take her own life having allegedly suffered domestic abuse.
Tori Towey, 28, from Boyle in County Roscommon and who works for Emirates Airlines in the UAE, said she was attacked in her home and has now been banned from leaving the state.
She said she tried to take her own life after the attack, which left her with severe bruises and injuries.
But after being taken to a police station, Ms Towey is now facing charges of alcohol consumption and attempting suicide by a court in Dubai.
She said she is unable to leave the country as her passport was blocked, meaning she can’t travel back home to Ireland.
Tori Towey has been left stranded in Dubai after being faced with an attempted suicide charge
Tori was pictured with extensive bruises over her body, which she says are from an assault
Speaking through outreach group Detained in Dubai (DiD), who are assisting the family, Ms Towey said: ‘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.’
The DiD has said Ms Towey could face a lengthy prison sentence in a jail known for ‘human rights abuses and torture’.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai (DiD) claims Tori’s husband went after her with a knife and punched her, before slamming her arm in the bathroom door trying to break it. She says he was later fired by Emirates over his alleged behaviour.
Ms Stirling 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.
‘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.’
She explained: ‘Tori arranged to fly home to Ireland but, when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her by her husband had been dropped but the travel ban remained.
‘She attended the police station who assured her the travel ban would be lifted but it never happened. The next day, Tori and her husband had some wine and he became enraged, accusing her of having an affair.’
Ms Towey then attempted to take her own life and ended up in a police station.
Ms Stirling explained: ‘The next thing she remembers is an ambulance crew and police waking her up. She was taken to Al Barsha police station and kept for several hours before going home again.
‘Her mother pleaded to the Irish Consulate but in the absence of their assistance, boarded a flight to Dubai. When she arrived, she wasn’t allowed to see Tori alone, her abuser wouldn’t allow it.
‘The three met at Emirates mall then attended the prosecutor’s office to find out what charges had been registered against her.’
Ms Towey, who graduated from the Dublin Institute Of Technology, moved to the UAE in April 2023
Tori is pictured in 2021, before her move to the UAE – where she now hopes to return to Ireland
Irish premier Simon Harris has said he will work to intervene in the ‘appalling’ case, while Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Towey’s case in the Irish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Harris thanked Ms McDonald for bringing the case to his attention, saying: ‘I’m not directly appraised of the situation, but I’m very happy to be directly appraised of it now.’
He said he would work with the deputy ‘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’.
The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Daily Mail it was aware of the case and was offering consular assistance.
Ms McDonald told Dail Eireann that Ms Towey has been the victim of domestic violence and is subject to a travel ban over alleged charges.
She said she has spoken to Ms Towey, and that the 28-year-old’s mother has travelled to Dubai to be with her.
‘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.’
Radha Stirling, CEO of DiD says Tori’s husband attacked her with a knife and punched her, before slamming her arm in the bathroom door trying to break it. Pictured the injuries said to be from the alleged attack
The 28-year-old moved to the UAE in April 2023 when she was offered a job as a flight attendant with Emirates
Mr 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’.
The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Daily Mail it was aware of the case and was offering consular assistance.
Talking to Sky News, Tori’s 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.’
The airline hostess has been told ‘nothing could be done’ and that the case will be going to court on July 18.
If you need to talk to someone, call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org
