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Updated 12.40pm
IBRAHIM HALAWA TODAY has had his 19th trial date delayed – three years after he was arrested for taking part in a political demonstration.
Halawa was arrested and detained at a protest in Cairo in August 2013 held in support of the Muslim Brotherhood which had been ousted from power by the Egyptian military.
He is charged with attempted murder but no evidence has ever been presented in his case. Amnesty International has also said it has seen no evidence against him.
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said she is frustrated at the lack of progress in Halawa’s case. Boylan added that relations with Egypt “cannot continue while Ibrahim is imprisoned”.
She said: “Today, Ibrahim faces his 19th trial hearing, having spent over 3 years of his young life behind bars. The 21-year-old has been convicted of no crime and his arbitrary detention and participation in a mass trial violates both Egyptian and international law.”
Boylan said there are a number of options open to President Sisi to release Ibrahim, including the presidential decree and the youth amnesty but in order for him to do so, he must be left in no doubt that normal relations between Ireland and Egypt are threatened.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said that he was “deeply disappointing”.
“I am deeply disappointed that this case has again been delayed and I am concerned for Ibrahim to whom we are providing ongoing consular care. Ireland’s Ambassador to Egypt, Damien Cole, was present in the court for today’s hearing and he has given me a report on the hearing.
“Ambassador Cole’s report indicates that notwithstanding this adjournment, the judges have indicated a clear desire to move this case forward. Following petitions from defence lawyers today, the hearing was put back to 22 March.”
Green Party Deputy Leader Catherine Martin said the delay was disappointing.
“This is a bitterly disappointing blow for Ibrahim after the visit of the Oireachtas delegation recently. We now know that Ibrahim will be returned home to Ireland as soon as his trial finishes, but this is a very hollow promise if a trial never happens. It is vitally important that this process is brought to an end.”
With reporting by Paul Hosford
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How many people get the train…oh no wait I forgot, it’s 2024 and still no rail link to our capital city.
@Stephen Heffernan: you may swap the 2s and the 4s in the date, and there’s a good chance there still won’t be. Maybe a 50 year old underground line, but even that’s not sure
@Jerry LeFrog: The outgoing minister of transport did a great job progressing this!
@Stephen Heffernan: the cost of living crisis must be just a myth
My comment is for the Ukrainians giving out bout living conditions… now ye know how it feels for irish ppl in homes with no heating mould damp etc. etc. And still they are being ignored by a government who continues to talk down on the ppl that pays them
@rastaman187: bad living conditions are a function of poverty, nothing to do with nationality. So quit blaming immigrants
@SYaxJ2Ts: buggers can’t be choosers, if the Ukrainians aren’t happy here,try somewhere else
@James Moylan: the residents were asked by Doras for their feedback, and gave it. What’s your problem?
@SYaxJ2Ts: they should be grateful for what they are getting, if not go to a different country
@rastaman187: So then why do the same people keep voting in this government over and over and over again? Well? If you are desperate to tall aboit this, why don’t you answer this?
@Shane O Mac: Maybe they wouldn’t be here in the first place if the government wasn’t so desperate to be patted on the head by the EU and the multinationals, aka the only reason why you even have things like sanitation and electricity on this island? You don’t like that? Then why do you keep voting in this government ?
@GoodBrother: I didn’t vote for this government, never have and never will.
@Shane O Mac: so when they were asked specifics about their living conditions, they should have lied and said that they were 5 star rated? Wtf is wrong with you?
@James Moylan: Says he!
I’ve a space in me garden if anyone is interested. Only 7 minutes away from Dublin Airport. I’ll drop you up and pick you up,€85 all in..
@Paul Gorry: would me car be safe though? I think I’d take the Shannon flight
@Sean Money: Absolutely sean. My two XL Bullys will make sure of that.
@Paul Gorry: Same here! Living next to the new runway. Have a free parking space and will do a drop off and pick up…price negotiable.
@Paul Gorry: Can they put out fires?
@Sean Buckley: Young Munsters fan?
Came home from a foreign holiday and found car had a flat in airport car park. Called breakdown service and when they arrived I realized it wasn’t my car. Then remembered I went to the airport by bus. Arrived home and remembered I don’t own a car. True story.
Should be more flights out of Knock Shannon and Cork use what we have why drive to Dublin if your from the west or south
@Martin Ridge: I drive to the flights that take me to my destination. If the airlines choose Dublin then I have to fly from Dublin.
If they can make money in Knock, Shannon or Cork they’ll fly from there in a heartbeat. I used to work in an airline. The routes are evaluated and changed constantly. If they’re flying from Dublin its because they make the most money from Dublin. The other airports need to be supported and helped become better competitors.
@Martin Ridge: not enough demand to make to routes viable .
@Michael O’Neill: If the demand isn’t there, supports for the airport will be very expensive, and most likely not feasible. 90%+ load factor and minimal time sitting on stand from Dublin. The others simply can’t match that and making up the difference per flight/per aircraft will run into the 10s of millions per year. Its down to population and capital city tourism.
@Martin Ridge: Park in Shannon, Knock, Cork, Farranfore …
Connect in Dublin, Heathrow, Schiphol, Charles de Gaul …
@Martin Ridge: Knock is an excellent way to avoid Dublin, plus it’s a 45 minute flight to London, from where you can fly anywhere, they still run that commuter flight that the airport was opened for. Did it for 6 months, was very handy.
Got a lift recently. Prices are out of control. Nearly 200 quid!!! Ask my left one
@Rafa C: another Muppet that has the luxury of living within an hour of the airport…..and can get a lift…..
@Rafa C: €76 for a week in October a little bit saucy but look nowhere near €200
@and the hit’s just keep coming: don’t live near airport
@Fiona Wyse: nowhere near those prices. 86 was the lowest with 15 min shuttle bus. But can’t do that unfortunately. It was 190ish to park ground level at terminal. Which is what I need. If I can’t then I have to find a lift.
Up until a few years ago the cheapest option was to book in quickpark Santry. Huge parking right beside the airport and critically competition for the DAA parking.
Interesting that it got shut down.
Interesting that DAA tried to buy the old site of quickpark.
Interesting that now DAS have been blocked for monopoly rules from buying it a number of stories start surfacing to make the public aware of the shortage of parking.
Almost like the public should get behind the DAA being allowed to expand their paid parking business.
@Neil Armstrong: How did it “get shut down”?
@Neil Armstrong: start surfacing??? Lack of parking at peak times has been in the press constantly over the last 3 years with return to normal flight patterns after Covid.
The DAA want to expand their parking.
Proof: They just bid on and were blocked buying the old quickpark site.
It’s in the DAA’s business interests to block competition for parking close to the airport.
Proof: Quickpark initially faced strong opposition from the then Aer Rianta. They tried to block it right to the Supreme Court. Google it.
If I’ve a ‘conspiracy’ it’s a simple one – DAA like money. They like to make money from their car parks. They’d like to have *more* parking fee money. They’d like more spaces to help get more money. That agenda requires public/political support. Crazy theory I know. Paid DAA run airport viewing area replacing the free area in the next few years – anyone taking bets?
All I’m saying BTW is it’s not in the public interest to allow DAA to expand their parking business (take over quickpark/other large site). It’s better to allow a competitor into the market.
I don’t blame the DAA for a business strategy. Of course they’re going to advocate in the Transport Committee and release stories about lack of capacity.
The solution however isn’t to increase capacity by further eroding competition.
@Neil Armstrong: So we’re stuck with the current solution of a closed car park. Great.
@Neil Armstrong: the old quickpark site has been for sale for 3 years and has only had a single bidder – DAA. Even with DAA now blocked from purchasing not one company has come forward. If there were other bidders in then the competition argument might hold water. But there aren’t and therefore it doesn’t. And again….there’s no “releasing” of stories, this has been happening for years.
We need to upgrade Shannon & Cork airport with fast express links for the South West a new airport around Cavan for the North East, Another around Portlaoise for the South East, then Dublin for the remainder.
@Be Lucky: and who’s going to pay for that? And should people expect 4 flights daily from each of these airports to every destination in Europe?
@Be Lucky: Waterford?
another cabbage head legacy to be fixed
So, the Cost of Living Crisis is over.
As someone already commented. could you offer a space if you had a house near the airport. Then Drive them to the terminal. Mind their car for the week for a fee. Sounds like a winner to me.
Joke of an airport, you can’t park there and if you’re lucky enough to get one it will cost you nearly as much as your flight. Still no rail link to the airport despite been promised one for the last 40 years, so flying from Dublin airport has now become a terrible experience.
@The Firestarter: They’re all the same. A week in Heathrow is 140 sterling
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: At least you can get both the underground and rail services to Heathrow.
Know any Aer Lingus pilots ?
They can lend you their free parking space… short term and all!
And then they may have nowhere to go
Maybe this is the reason why they ain’t puting a track to the airport… free money with minimal expenditure.
Never fly anywhere or do anything. Never have to worry about it then!
@Dan The Man: how boring an existence!
Over 18,000 parking spaces & not one solar panel, this is perfect location for solar whilst car parks underneath, instead of using fertile farm land, poor policies choices!
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