Cliona Ward 'in her own bed' as family thanks 'humanity' from supporters
The Ward family has thanked supporters for their 'humanity and kindness' after their sister Cliona was released from a US immigration detention, where she had spent more than two weeks imprisoned.
Cliona's sister, Orla Holladay, said that her sibling was 'finally in her own bed' after an experience which had left her 'in shock' and 'traumatised'.
Ms Holladay said Cliona's release represents 'an absolute and beautiful success'.
In an update to the GoFundMe campaign set up to help with Cliona's legal bills, her sister said that all contributors 'have literally helped to save Cliona's life as she knows it and we love you for your humanity and kindness'.
The GoFundMe campaign had raised $47,755 at the time of writing, though Ms Holladay noted that the full cost of Cliona's legal representation — which amounted to separate legal counsel in both Seattle and her hometown of Santa Cruz — had yet to be determined.
She said that the GoFundMe campaign would remain open to allow Cliona to deliver a message of her own to her supporters before being shut down.
Post-conviction relief
Dublin-born Cliona, 54, a resident of the US for more than four decades, was taken into detention by American immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officials on April 21 on foot of a number of decades-old criminal convictions which she believed had been expunged from her record.
Earlier this week, she was granted post-conviction relief within Santa Cruz. This cleared the way for those convictions to finally be overturned.
When Cliona appeared before a judge in Seattle on Wednesday morning, she was informed that the case against her had been dropped and that she would be released that afternoon.
Ms Holladay said that her sister had been 'very hungry' when she finally emerged from the Tacoma detention centre.
'It's an absolutely surreal experience,' she said of what her sister had been through. 'She is in shock, filled with emotions, traumatised, full of gratitude.'
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Early last Tuesday, Sunny, who was 78, died along with her carer, Kevin Kelly, as a blaze ripped through her cottage. It was a tragic end to a remarkable life that was documented in books, a play, and a film, The Exonerated. All week, tributes have poured in for the woman who beat all the odds and had survived nearly two decades behind bars. Her RIP notice said 'We share the tragic news of Dr Sunny Jacob's tragic death at her home in Casla, Connemara, Co Galway on June 03, 2025. 'Sunny, a beloved member of the community as well as the wider international community where she was well-known for her humanitarian work and as an activist supporting and giving a voice to others. 'She is a huge loss, and will be heartbreakingly missed by her daughter Christina, son Eric, and grandchildren, Claudia, Jesse, and Bella. She was loved and will be missed by many, many close friends and family. Proceeded in death by her spouse Jesse Tafero, and her late husband and activist, Peter Pringle.' 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