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Extra.ie
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Palestinian activist from Cork is homeward bound
A 71-year-old Cork activist is set to return to her home after being deported from Israel for protesting the demolition of homes in the occupied West Bank. Cork woman Deirdre 'D' Murphy was arrested by Israeli authorities at the small village of Khalet al-Daba'a on May 31 and spent close to two weeks in prison. The long-standing member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) for Palestine was arrested alongside a Swedish woman after being accused of being in a 'closed military zone'. Deirdre Murphy with her son Dale Ryan. Pic: Supplied The pensioner was served with a deportation order but decided to spend time in jail in order to appeal it. The ISM confirmed yesterday she was returning to her home in Wales. They claimed she was brought before a tribunal without legal representation, despite requests, and her lawyer was only allowed to visit her once while she was in custody. Dale Ryan, Ms Murphy's son, said: 'The past 10 days have been intense and we have had to trust that the Israeli authorities would treat my mother fairly and ensure her basic needs were met. From their treatment of the Palestinians over the past several decades, this was not something we had the most confidence in. My mother did not want to be detained or deported, she wanted to be in the Masafer Yatta region with her friends, helping in any way she could, but I know she would have been pleased her situation helped to draw some more eyes to the appalling treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and the humanitarian crisis we are witnessing in Gaza.' Israel has accelerated plans to build settlements in the West Bank since the war with Hamas began, with 22 more approved just before Ms Murphy's arrest.
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Deported Irish woman returns home from Israel
Dale Ryan, son of Deirdre "D" Murphy, who was due to arrive home from Israel in the early hours after failing to lift an Israeli deportation order against her.
Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Irish pro-Palestine activist set to be deported from Israel
An Irish woman is due to leave Israel on Wednesday after failing to lift an Israeli deportation order against her and spending ten days in detention, according to the pro-Palestinian activist group she was volunteering with in the occupied West Bank and her family. According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Máire ní Mhurchú, also known as 'D' Murphy (70), is to return to her home in Swansea, Wales. Ms Murphy has been detained in Givon Prison in the Israeli city of Ramla since 1st June, when she challenged a deportation order made against her following her arrest in the West Bank on 31st May. [ Israeli strikes kill at least 35 people in Gaza, many near an aid site, medics say Opens in new window ] 'As a family we are all very relieved to have my mother home,' said Dale Ryan, Ms Murphy's son, in a statement. 'The past 10 days has been intense and we have had to trust that the Israeli authorities would treat my mother fairly and ensure her basic needs were met. From their treatment of the Palestinians over the past several decades, this was not something we had the most confidence in.' ISM said a hearing had been scheduled for July for Ms Murphy to challenge the deportation order against her. This followed an appearance Mr Murphy made before Israel's Detention Review Tribunal on June 4th where the Irish woman says she was not given legal representation or an opportunity to obtain legal advice and, on the basis, refused to participate in the proceedings. READ MORE ISM says Ms Murphy's lawyer, Noa Dagoni, has since managed to visit her once but did not receive a response from Israel's prison service regarding a request for the Irish pensioner's release. The Israeli ambassador responsible for Ireland, Dana Erlich, did not respond to a request for comment. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin said it is providing consular assistance and, as per protocol, does not comment on the details of individual cases. Ms Murphy was detained by Israeli police on May 31st near Khalet al-Daba'a, a Palestinian village that has been largely demolished by Israeli forces, along with Swedish activist Susanne Björk (48). Ms Björk left Israel on June 2nd after a deportation order was also made against her. Both women deny that the grounds on which the orders were made against them and, in particular, deny failing to comply with an order to leave a military zone by Israeli soldiers. 'Israeli bulldozers have returned to Khalet Al-Daba'a, the West Bank village in the demolition-plagued region of Masafer Yatta where Murphy was arrested,' said ISM on Wednesday. 'It is a harrowing development that as she is deported, the Israeli forces are finishing to demolish what was left of the village of Khalet Al-Daba'a, where she and Björk were arrested. ' Ms Murphy, who is originally from Douglas, Cork but lives in Wales, is a founding member of Swansea Palestine Community Link and was previously detained in 2011, when she travelled to Israel with the group. 'I know after a day's rest my mother will be back gathering support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the fair treatment of all Palestinians, after me and all her family give her a massive hug,' said Mr Ryan.
Arab News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
70-year-old Irish woman detained in Israel as son urges authorities to ‘send her home'
LONDON: The son of a 70-year-old Irish woman detained by Israeli authorities has issued a plea for her release, citing urgent concerns over her health and wellbeing, The Independent newspaper reported on Friday. Deirdre Murphy, an Irish activist originally from Cork and now based in Swansea, was arrested last week in the West Bank village of Khalet Al-Daba'a, which was recently demolished by Israeli bulldozers. She remains in custody at the Givon Prison in Ramla after choosing to challenge a deportation order issued against her, The Independent added. Her son, Dale Ryan, called on Israeli authorities to ensure that she is treated 'with dignity and respect' and urged them to 'send her home quickly,' adding that he is 'really proud' of his mother. 'Israel is meant to be a civilized country, so you think (the detainees') basic rights would have been met. But maybe that trust is a little bit misguided,' Ryan told The Independent. Ryan said that Murphy suffers from bronchiectasis, a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the airways in the lungs. 'Stress can make symptoms worse as well,' he said. 'So I am a little bit concerned. I just hope my mother's in good health, but also my mother is quite a resilient person. I know she will gain strength from this.' Murphy was detained alongside Swedish national Susanne Bjork, 48, who told the newspaper that the pair were denied access to a toilet during their initial detention. 'Who doesn't allow a 70-year-old woman to go to the toilet? It's certainly not something a democratic country would be doing,' Bjork said. She has since been deported from Israel. Israeli police did not respond to the allegation when approached by The Independent. According to the International Solidarity Movement, Murphy has not had legal counsel since Monday. The group also alleges that she was brought to a deportation hearing on Wednesday without legal representation and without her lawyer being notified, despite her request. The two women had been in Khalet Al-Daba'a filming and monitoring settler activity when they were approached by a settler in military uniform, who demanded to see their passports. Bjork said that they were complying with orders to leave the area when they were apprehended. Authorities later accused the women of being in a restricted area and of failing to show ID, allegations the Swedish woman rejects. 'These are completely false accusations,' she said. 'As soon as they told us we were not allowed in the area, we tried to leave. The soldiers had at first our passports, and then the police took our passports. We complied with all instructions.' Video footage obtained by The Independent shows armed Israeli personnel holding the women's passports. The video ends before they were detained by the settler. The women were released briefly on Saturday evening and then detained again after refusing to leave the country voluntarily. Murphy opted to fight her deportation, while Bjork agreed to depart. Bjork added that their treatment in custody stood in stark contrast to the treatment of Palestinians, describing seeing 'two small boys who were blindfolded and zip-tied' brought into the police station. 'They looked about 13 or 14, these boys were obviously terrified. I mean, we were getting water and being fed and everything, so we're very privileged in one way, because the way we were treated and the way Palestinians are treated is wildly different,' she said. A spokesperson for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to The Independent that consular assistance is being provided in Murphy's case. Israeli police told the newspaper that the women had been detained on 'suspicion of violating a military order' and were barred from the West Bank for 15 days. 'Over the weekend, police received a report from the security coordinator of the community of Ma'on regarding the presence of several suspicious individuals near a structure in the area of Khirbet Al-Dab'a, located within an active military firing zone near the community of Avigayil in the South Hebron Hills,' they said. 'Officers from the Hebron station, along with IDF forces from the subdistrict, arrived at the scene and identified the individuals as two foreign nationals, who were present within the closed military zone in violation of a standing military order. Information provided by the Judea and Samaria Central Investigations Unit (YAMAR) indicated that one of the suspects are known abroad for involvement in anti-Israel activity. 'Following the hearing on Sunday, it was determined that both individuals would be removed from the country,' the statement continued. 'One of the suspects agreed to the removal order and signed a declaration stating that she would not appeal the decision. The second notified authorities of her intent to file a petition against the decision.' They confirmed Murphy will remain in custody until 'her departure or the legal resolution of her appeal.'
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pro-Palestine activist from Swansea detained in West Bank
The son of a Pro-Palestinian activist has said he "remains in the dark" after she was detained in the occupied West Murphy, who lives in Swansea, has been held in custody since 31 May when she was arrested in a southern part of the 70-year-old, originally from Cork, Ireland, had been volunteering with the pro-Palestinian activist group International Solidary Movement (ISM) at the time of her arrest. The Israeli government has been approached for Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, said he would do everything he can "to support a swift and just resolution" after raising concerns about Ms Murphy's access to legal representation. The West Bank - the land between the eastern edge of Israel and the western side of the River Jordan - is home to an estimated three million Palestinians. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six Day War of 1967 and is continuing to build settlements which Palestinians want as part of any future state. These are regarded as illegal under international law although Israel rejects this Israel has military control of the West Bank, the Oslo Accords of 1995 gave the Palestinian Authority some administrative and security control over certain Murphy's son Dale Ryan told Radio Wales Breakfast his mother was "doing OK" but he remained "in the dark" about when he would see her was arrested last Saturday before being taken to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, according to her son. He said she was then moved to Givon Prison in Ramla where she has been held since 3 June."She was detained after being accused of being in a military zone," said Mr Ryan."Her and another woman, Susanne Björk, who are there with the ISM, were being questioned by the army." According to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, the pair were complying with the order before Israeli settlers, wearing military uniforms, called the Ryan, who lives on the Gower peninsula, said his mother was brought to a hearing on Wednesday "without any representation.""There is a lawyer acting on her behalf. Because it's not a trial, they would have been there more as a witness, but she was denied access to her lawyer." said Mr Ryan said he had not "personally" spoken to his mothers since the arrest - instead receiving updates from her lawyer and ISM. "My mother is quite a resilient person," he said."But as the days go on, she is becoming fatigued, and probably a bit anxious about the whole situation."Mr Ryan said his mother has some chest problems, which is "concerning for us", and he is desperate to "know she is in good health."According to an ISM press release, Ms Murphy has been involved as an activist in the region for over two decades and has been based in Swansea since the 1980s."She went to Palestine in 2004 after setting up a fundraiser where we walked around the Gower in four days," according to Mr said she wanted to "contribute" to the aid and facilities that were being developed at the time."In the last few years she has spent a lot of time in Masafer Yatta," he added, which according to the press release, is where she got arrested. Ms Murphy's lawyer, Noa Dagoni told the BBC that the handling of the case has been "deeply troubling"."Since her detention at Givon prison, Ms. Murphy has been unable to contact me, despite multiple requests on my part and efforts from her side – the reasons for that remain unclear," she said Ms Murphy had requested legal counsel for "the detention review tribunal hearing as well as representation during the hearing itself".But Ms Dagoni said that apparently "no actual access" had been granted which would "constitute a serious and unlawful violation" of Ms Murphy's rights. Ms Murphy's local MP Bell said "hundreds of constituents" had contacted him with their concerns."I've been in touch with Deirdre's family and am liaising with both the Irish government, who are providing consular support, and the UK Foreign Office, who have offered their assistance and stand ready to help further."He said he was "particularly concerned" that Ms Murphy may not have legal representation."We all want to see Deirdre released as soon as possible," he Irish Embassy Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was "aware of the case and is providing consular assistance."It added that "the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not comment on the details of individual cases."The Foreign Office said: "We have not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7." Additional reporting by Shazia Ali
