Robert Pether released on bail after four years in Iraqi jail
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Simon Harris
has been informed that an
Australian
citizen who has been living in Ireland has been released on bail after spending four years in an
Iraqi
prison.
Robert Pether and his wife Desree have been living in Elphin,
Co Roscommon
for a number of years.
The engineer was helping to design the central bank in Baghdad and was set to work on three hospitals.
However, there was a contract dispute between his employer and the Central Bank of Iraq, which led to him and his Egyptian work colleague Khalid Radwan being imprisoned.
READ MORE
The pair were sentenced to five years and fined $12 million by an Iraqi court.
Mr Pether was detained in April 2021 and was found guilty of deception in a 'kangaroo court', according to his wife.
Mr Pether has been in an Iraqi jail since then and his family have feared for his health.
They have been lobbying the Government for help since his arrest.
In a statement the Tánaiste said that he has been 'informed' of Mr Pether's release and whose 'imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern'.
The Tánaiste said he had spoken with Iraq's foreign minister Fuad Hussein last month to urge him to release the Australian.
'I was informed that Robert has been released on bail and for the moment he remains in Iraq, but I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon,' Mr Harris said.
'We remain concerned about Robert's health and outstanding charges, but I am hopeful now of a positive resolution in this case.'
He also confirmed that he had spoken with Ms Pether about the 'positive development' in her husband's case and thanked the ongoing work of Irish officials living in the region on the issue.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Israel's international reputation: sliding ever downward
Slowly but perceptibly, the relentless flow of images of horror and suffering from Gaza is hardening opposition to Israel's actions there, even among those traditionally considered the country's staunchest supporters. The shift will be unacceptably slow for anyone desperate to stop the killing, while it appears to have had little effect as yet on the brutal tactics of Israeli forces. But it represents a change of attitude among international political leaders and their voters that could have far-reaching consequences for the region. A YouGov poll this week showed support and sympathy for Israel in western Europe at its lowest ever level. Less than 20 per cent of respondents held a favourable opinion of the country. In what the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz described as 'a rebuke typically reserved for pariah regimes,' the UK has suspended free trade negotiations. Along with Canada and France, it has also threatened 'concrete actions' in response to what Keir Starmer describes as Israel's 'appalling' actions. Even Germany issued its harshest criticism since the war began with the Hamas attack of October 7th 2023, Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying he 'no longer understands' Israel's goals in Gaza. Ireland has been among the most vociferous EU opponents of the war and a further landmark arrived this week with Trinity College Dublin's decision to sever all ties with Israeli companies and universities. It remains to be seen whether other institutions follow suit, but the move, while largely symbolic, is significant nonetheless. READ MORE Supporters of Binyamin Netanyahu's government are quick to paint such gestures as anti-Smitic. It is true that the scourge of anti-Semitism can be found among some elements of the anti-war movement, as recent violent attacks in the US have shown. But the accusation that all protests are driven by hatred of Jews rather than humanitarian concern does not stand up to scrutiny. The charge wears even thinner given opposition in Israel itself. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert has described his country's actions as a war crime. Hundreds of former operatives of the intelligence agency Mossad, including three retired heads, have accused Netanyahu of continuing the violence for selfish political reasons, to satisfy far-right members of his government. These comments may reflect a rising awareness among some of the country's elite that what is happening in Gaza is not just an appalling tragedy for Palestinians. It also threatens to become a disaster for the state of Israel. With the governing coalition under the sway of far-right racist ministers who have no respect for international law or for the human rights of those they deem 'barbarians', Israel drifts ever further away from the liberal democratic values it purports to share with its increasingly sceptical friends and allies.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Multinational nursing home operators do not deliver lower standards of care, says spokesman
There is no evidence to support the claim that private sector nursing homes provide poorer care than public ones, a spokesman for the private and voluntary nursing home sector has said. Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland was speaking in the wake of an RTÉ programme on two Irish nursing homes run by French multinational Emeis . The undercover documentary alleged serious failings in the care being delivered. Mr Daly cited a 15-year review of the sector last year by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) that noted a 'clear trend' of large corporate groups purchasing Irish nursing homes but found no associated negative effect on care. The report said Hiqa 'does not currently have any specific concerns' regarding the quality of care provided in nursing homes that are owned or operated by these large corporate groups. READ MORE [ What is Emeis and where are its Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] However, it said the consolidation of nursing home ownership by a small number of large operators represented a 'systemic risk' that should be addressed as part of an overall strategy for the sector. Mr Daly said there must be a regulatory regime that delivers the 'high quality care that our older people require and deserve'. The policy of 'Ireland Inc' was to encourage foreign direct investment in all sectors of the economy, including the healthcare sector, he said. 'You can have bad outcomes in the private system and bad outcomes in the public system,' he said. [ Review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland requested by Department of Health Opens in new window ] Emeis Ireland, formerly Orpea, apologised for what was revealed by the RTÉ documentary, which involved secret filming inside The Residence, in Portlaoise, Co Laois, and the Beneavin Manor nursing home, in Glasnevin, Dublin 11. Minister for Older People Kieran O'Donnell met Hiqa in the wake of the programme which he described as 'extremely distressing'. The share price of the French multinational, then called Orpea, collapsed a few years ago following the publication of a book in France about care standards in its homes, with a French state investment fund eventually bailing it out. The fund remains the largest shareholder of the business, which had global revenues of €5.6 billion last year. The French multinational is the largest operator in the Irish nursing home sector, with its Irish subsidiaries owned by way of a company in Luxembourg called Central & Eastern Europe Health Care Services Holding Sarl. Shane Scanlan, chief executive of The Alliance – Supporting Nursing Homes, a nursing home trade association said smaller independent nursing home groups provide a better standard of care in general than multinational groups do, because they are 'on the ground' and their owners are more in touch with what is happening in their home. 'Emeis has €5.6 billion generated in global funding and you look at the programme and there aren't even sheets, basic incontinence wear, there's poor staffing levels. That's completely unacceptable from an organisation generating that level of revenue.' A Hiqa report from an inspection of the Portlaoise nursing home in February noted a weak organisation structure was affecting the quality of care being provided. It also noted 'noncompliance' in a number of key areas. There were 70 residents in the home at the time of the visit. Although changes had been introduced in the wake of criticisms made after a previous inspection, the report said, 'this inspection found that the overall governance and management of the centre had deteriorated since'. A November 2024 inspection of the Beneavin home, where there were 72 residents at the time, did not find any instance of noncompliance. 'From what the residents told the inspector and from what was observed, it was evident that residents were very happy living in Firstcare Beneavin Manor and their rights were respected in how they spent their days,' the report said. In a statement on Friday, Emeis noted a request from the Minister for Older People for Hiqa to conduct a national review of its nursing home facilities and said it will co-operate fully with all regulatory and statutory bodies. It said Hiqa and the HSE have visited Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise, and it has separately initiated on-site audits and 'detailed corrective actions'. It said the 'shocking and unacceptable' footage showing 'poor and abusive practice' is not representative of the professionalism and commitment of its employees in Ireland.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘Increased vigilance' needed from Hiqa's regulatory approach to nursing homes, Taoiseach says
There are issues that should be examined in the regulatory approach of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) to ensure the welfare of elderly people in nursing homes , Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. He was speaking in reaction to allegations of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes Beneavin House, in Glasnevin, Dublin, and The Residence, Portlaoise, Co Laois, which were shown in an RTÉ Investigates programme aired Wednesday night. Mr Martin described the content of the programme as 'absolutely unacceptable' and said 'there will have to be increased vigilance from the regulatory approach, and that is something that Government will be looking at'. The documentary shared scenes of older people allegedly being 'manhandled', ignored when asking for help to go to the toilet, and 'being left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked'. READ MORE Emeis Ireland, which operates both nursing homes at the centre of the scandal, has apologised 'unequivocally to all residents and their families for the suffering and distress' caused. [ Staff in nursing home at centre of neglect claims 'did not show a shred of empathy' for woman (92) Opens in new window ] Mr Martin said Government policy on safeguarding elders' welfare 'isn't the issue'. 'It will be an additional help but fundamentally it's behaviour on a day-to-day basis,' he said. 'It is how homes are operated and it's the regulation then of that that ultimately will still have to be the first response, and the key, to situations like this.' Hiqa is 'effective and impactful in many areas', however 'the regulatory framework didn't catch very horrific and shocking behaviour towards people in nursing homes. That has to be taken on board', Mr Martin said. [ Review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland requested by Department of Health Opens in new window ] There is 'a lack of a clear ethos and ethical framework' in the governance and ownership of the nursing homes in question which impacts 'respecting the dignity of every human being', Mr Martin said. He pledged 'additional investment in public facilities into the future', which he said 'tend to deal with more acute patients'. 'We have invested very strongly in the public system, which people may not realise, through the refurbishment of existing community district hospitals across the country over the last four to five years,' he said. A review of the 27 Emeis-owned nursing homes in the State was initiated Thursday morning after Minister of State with Responsibility for Older People Kieran O'Donnell met Hiqa representatives. Safeguarding teams have since been brought in to Beneavin House and The Residence, Portlaoise, by the Health and Safety Authority , The Irish Times understands. A demonstration has been planned for next week by Care Champions Ireland, an advocacy group for families with relatives in care facilities, outside Leinster House to 'demand safeguarding legislation' and 'reform all care provisions'. [ What is Emeis and where are its Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] In a statement on Friday evening Emeis said the RTÉ footage was 'both shocking and unacceptable and unquestionably equated to poor and abusive practice. 'Emeis Ireland has taken appropriate safeguarding actions in relation to residents and specific actions in relation to staff and a full organisational review is under way. These incidents were not representative of the professionalism and commitment of our employees in Ireland, nor of the everyday life in our facilities.'
