Ibrahim Halawa Has Been Freed
Ibrahim Halawa is a free man.
The 21 year old from Firhouse was released from custody in Cairo overnight.
It comes a month after he was cleared of all charges connected to mass protests in Cairo in August 2013.
His sister Fatima has told 98FM News one of Ibrahim's other sisters fainted upon seeing him.
Remember the heatwave of summer 2013? And the horse meat scandal? That's how long ago it's been since the now 21 year-old was jailed.
The Tallaght native was visiting family in Cairo and got caught up in political protesting days after the massacre of hundreds of Egyptians.
It's taken well over four years for Ibrahim's trial alongside almost 500 others to conclude.
He was found innocent off all charges relating to the Muslim Brotherhood demo that summer, but it's taken a full month for Egyptian authorities to release him.
His friend Anas Djebarri has been speaking to 98FM News this morning. They grew up together in the same Ballycullen housing estate and he hasn't seen him since they sat their Leaving Cert. Now he's graduating college.
"I always knew he was coming home. That's why I bought a ticket for him to my graduation night next month."
Anas says he wrote letters to Ibrahim chronicling the day to day happenings amongst his circle of friends. He's kept them in a box; ready to hand over to Ibrahim when he gets back to Dublin.
President Michael D Higgins has welcomed the news saying it will come as a huge relief to his family while Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney says there are some formalities to complete before Ibrahim can fly home.
Throwback
