Flight attendant faces Dubai jail after being 'attacked in her own home'

An air hostess is facing prison in Dubai after allegedly being left 'moments from death' following an attack by her husband at home.

Tori Towey, 28, from Co Roscommon in Ireland, is accused of violating strict laws in the Muslim country, despite the fact she was the victim of an alleged assault. Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald identified Ms Towey's husband as the alleged perpetrator on Tuesday, July 9, stating that she was a victim of "the most gross domestic violence".

Human rights activists reported that Tori wanted to leave the United Arab Emirates after receiving hospital treatment for severe bruising and other injuries, but was held back. She was then charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai warned that Tori could now face a long-term imprisonment in a jail infamous for "human rights abuses and torture," and have called on the government in Dublin to step in and fight to have the charges dismissed, reports the Mirror.

Disturbing images have surfaced online showing Tori with severe bruising on her arms.

Radha Stirling, the chief of Detained in Dubai, told the Irish Mirror: "We need Tori home in Ireland."

After graduating from Dublin Institute of Technology, Tori moved to Dubai in April last year to join Emirates Airlines, but following alleged assaults, Tori attempted to leave Dubai, according to Radha Stirling.

Describing what happened to her next, Ms Stirling said: "The 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. Her mother pleaded to the Irish Consulate, but in the absence of their assistance, she boarded a flight to Dubai .

"Tori arranged to fly home to Ireland but when she arrived at the airport, she was told there was a travel ban. She attended the police station. She was assured that the travel ban would be lifted, but it never happened. She was stuck. Tori's experience is nothing short of tragic and, quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive. The Irish Embassy and the UAE medical and police services could certainly have done more to help Tori. She was moments from death."

The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris vowed to "intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen" in the "most appalling circumstances".

Opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald from the Sinn Fein party brought up the distressing case after speaking with Tori, and informed the Irish national parliament that the woman's "passport has been destroyed" and a "travel ban was imposed on her".

She has spoken out about Tori's harrowing situation and said it had all led her to attempt suicide.

Ms McDonald said: "Following one particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to break her arm, Tori escaped upstairs and she attempted to take her own life. Tori now faces charges in Dubai of attempted suicide and the abuse of alcohol.

"The system over there, rather than protecting this woman, who is an Irish citizen, chose instead to detain her, to charge her. She's now under the most incredible stress. I spoke to her. Her mother Caroline has travelled to be with her. Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She's a Roscommon woman. She wants to come home."

She has demanded immediate action, and added: "I'm asking now, as a matter of absolute urgency, that we have a statement from this House; that you intervene, Taoiseach; that the Ambassador comes in and that you explain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way. That an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way."

Detained in Dubai has pleaded for charges to be dismissed prior to Tori's court date next Thursday. Ms Stirling said: "The case against her is going to court on July 18. She has been charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption."

She added: "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. We are also calling on Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris, the head of Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, ambassador Alison Milton, and local TDs to help bring Tori home."

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.