Latest news with #HeatherCornelius
Extra.ie
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Irish woman seeks help for husband jailed on ‘trumped-up charges' in Dubai 17 years ago
An Irish citizen has urged the Government to intervene in the case of her husband, who she says has been illegally imprisoned for 17 years in Dubai. Heather Cornelius made the plea in a series of meetings with opposition politicians and Department of Foreign Affairs officials this week. In 2003, Ryan Cornelius, together with his business partners, secured a 100-year lease to develop a 460-acre leisure residential complex in Dubai, backed by a credit line from the Dubai Islamic Bank. Heather Cornelius made the plea in a series of meetings with opposition politicians and Department of Foreign Affairs officials this week. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images In 2007, at the onset of the global financial crisis, Dubai Islamic Bank called in its credit line, and a restructuring agreement was reached with the bank over a three-year period. However, soon after the second loan repayment, Mr Cornelius was arrested at Dubai International Airport. In 2010, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for theft. Despite the charges of fraud and money laundering being dismissed for lack of evidence, authorities alleged theft from a public body. In 2018, shortly before his release, he was sentenced to an additional 20 years. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) has said his guilt was 'predetermined' and he did not receive a fair trial and that he was held in conditions equating to torture. Speaking to on a visit to Dublin, Ms Cornelius spoke about how 'devastating' the imprisonment of her husband has been on what she called 'trumped-up charges'. Pic: Family Handout/PA Wire She said: 'It has been absolutely devastating for all of us, for the whole family. It's obviously dreadful for Ryan. I mean, how he's survived, I really don't know.' Mr Cornelius has not had dental treatment for four years, has contracted Covid twice and has TB. His youngest was six when he was first jailed and is 23 now. His wife said: 'We can't get that time back.' She added that there was no sign of him 'coming out alive' at present. Ms Cornelius, whose mother is from Dublin, grew up partly in Co. Down and went to college in Coleraine. She has tried for several years to get the British government to help her free Mr Cornelius from jail in the UAE. Now, with the help of Bill Browder, who is known for his work on international human rights abuses, they have set their sights on Ireland and the EU in a bid to have her 71-year-old husband released. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images In 2008, Mr Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered a massive fraud committed by Russian government officials that involved the theft of $230 million in state taxes. After being arrested, Mr Magnitsky, a father of two, died in prison in 2009. His case led to international attention and the Magnitsky Act, a law that allows for sanctions against individuals involved in human rights abuses. Mr Browder has successfully campaigned to implement the Magnitsky Act, with the US, the UK and others implementing a version of the legislation in response to his experience of working in Russia. Both Mr Browder and Ms Cornelius praised the response they had received from Irish opposition figures and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ms Cornelius said she thought the British government 'would get involved' and 'talk to the right people' but that has not happened. Mr Browder said: 'We would like the Foreign Minister [Simon Harris] to approach the Emirati and say, 'Look, guys, he's been in jail for 17 years. Just grant him clemency. Let him come home to his family'. And make the approach directly and personally.' The meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs was 'positive', Mr Browder said. 'They have to study the case and make sure it all stacks up the way we say it does. But I was surprised,' he said. 'Normally, when you go into a foreign ministry, their immediate answer to everything is no, but we didn't get that response here. We got a warm response. 'I'm sure we will have to lean on them when the time comes, but the people we met were human beings. Sometimes a little country can make a big difference.' Ms Cornelius and Mr Browder met with the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell while they were in Dublin. Mr Browder said of the meetings: 'There is a strong moral fibre in Ireland. People are sensitised to injustice and much less cynical than in other countries.' He said larger countries like the US or the UK were often 'paralysed' and often needed the prime minister or the president to intervene personally on a matter to have a decision made. The Department of Foreign Affairs said: 'The department is aware of developments in the case of Mr Cornelius but does not comment on individuals. As Mr Cornelius is a UK national, the FCDO [UK foreign office] is the relevant consular authority.'
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Heather Cornelius whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with politicians in Dublin
Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment. His wife Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case. Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are 'way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else'. She was accompanied by human rights campaigner Bill Browder and her brother in law Chris Pagett.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Woman whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with Irish politicians
A woman whose husband has been detained in Dubai for 17 years met with Irish politicians on Thursday to garner support for his case. Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment. His wife Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case. Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are 'way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else'. 'They really are fantastic. We would just like to try and get some more people backing us and supporting us,' she told PA ahead of the meetings. Mrs Cornelius, her brother-in-law Chris Pagett, and human rights campaigner Sir Bill Browder, were due to meet with Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, and Independent senators Aubrey McCarthy and Gerard Craughwell. They are also expected to meet with an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mrs Cornelius said she has tried to campaign with the British government to push for her husband's release but has received 'very little back'. 'It's very much to try and increase our campaign. The years are running out. 'I'd like to get Ryan home, and I am an Irish citizen, and I feel that the more people that I can bring my story and perhaps get a little bit more help.' Mrs Cornelius' Irish mother met her father in Co Down and they married before moving to Zambia, where she was born. She then went to Coleraine High School and Jordanstown university in Northern Ireland, now known as Ulster University. She said that of the 40 years she and her husband have been married, he has spent 17 years in prison. 'That's the most devastating thing. It has been all the way along, but now it sits even heavier on both our shoulders that he's lost all that time with his family, and he'll never get that back. But we do hope that we'll get some time together, a few years (where) we could be happy.' She said that her youngest child was six-years-old when her husband was arrested, and is now 23. 'It's completely devastated our family.' She said her husband has high blood pressure, several skin conditions, has contracted TB while in jail and has had Covid-19 several times. 'There are no easy things about being in jail in the Middle East. 'We talk every day on the phone, and we hold on to that hope.' Chris Pagett, who is married to Heather's sister, said he has been part of efforts to push the British government to help secure Mr Cornelius's release. 'This has been a cross we've all had to bear. We always live with hope there'll be a breakthrough, but even if there is tomorrow, it's 17 years we'll never get back,' he said. Mr Pagett said that Ireland and the EU 'represents really one of our main hopes'. As a former British diplomat, Mr Pagett said the case highlights 'a chronic failure to protect your citizens abroad from injustice'. 'I think eventually a majority of British people will become more concerned about it,' he said. 'This will become a political issue, because at the moment, it's isolated cases here and there. 'Certainly, the issue is likely in the world that we are now living in to become much more of an issue.' Sir Bill Browder said the British government has 'basically been totally inactive' and that 'anything is better than nothing'. 'Ryan is a British citizen, but the British government has pretty much left him to hang out and dry. 'Given that there's a connection to Ireland, we thought that perhaps the Irish would care more about one of theirs than the British do about theirs. 'We're going to Brussels in a few weeks to meet people in the European Parliament – and particularly the Irish members of the European Parliament – and we're here in Dublin to meet with the Irish parliament, and we're trying to find any way to get him out. 'This man should not have been in prison at all, but to serve 17 years and to have his entire life ruined over this thing, it's just unfathomable.'
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Woman whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with TDs and Senators
A woman whose husband has been detained in Dubai for 17 years met with Irish politicians on Thursday to garner support for his case. Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. Advertisement A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment. His wife, Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case. Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are 'way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else'. 'They really are fantastic. We would just like to try and get some more people backing us and supporting us,' she told PA ahead of the meetings. Advertisement Mrs Cornelius, her brother-in-law Chris Pagett, and human rights campaigner Sir Bill Browder, were due to meet with Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, and Independent senators Aubrey McCarthy and Gerard Craughwell. Sir William Browder (left) and the family of Ryan Cornelius, his Irish wife Heather and brother-in-law Chris Pagett arrive ahead of a meeting with politicians at Leinster House in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) They are also expected to meet with an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mrs Cornelius said she has tried to campaign with the British government to push for her husband's release but has received 'very little back'. 'It's very much to try and increase our campaign. The years are running out. Advertisement 'I'd like to get Ryan home, and I am an Irish citizen, and I feel that the more people that I can bring my story and perhaps get a little bit more help.' Mrs Cornelius' Irish mother met her father in Co Down and they married before moving to Zambia, where she was born. She then went to Coleraine High School and Jordanstown university in Northern Ireland, now known as Ulster University. She said that of the 40 years she and her husband have been married, he has spent 17 years in prison. Advertisement 'That's the most devastating thing. It has been all the way along, but now it sits even heavier on both our shoulders that he's lost all that time with his family, and he'll never get that back. But we do hope that we'll get some time together, a few years (where) we could be happy.' She said that her youngest child was six-years-old when her husband was arrested, and is now 23. 'It's completely devastated our family.' She said her husband has high blood pressure, several skin conditions, has contracted TB while in jail and has had Covid-19 several times. Advertisement 'There are no easy things about being in jail in the Middle East. 'We talk every day on the phone, and we hold on to that hope.' Heather Cornelius, the wife of Ryan Cornelius, speaking to a PA journalist as she arrives ahead of a meeting with politicians at Leinster House in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Chris Pagett, who is married to Heather's sister, said he has been part of efforts to push the British government to help secure Mr Cornelius's release. 'This has been a cross we've all had to bear. We always live with hope there'll be a breakthrough, but even if there is tomorrow, it's 17 years we'll never get back,' he said. Mr Pagett said that Ireland and the EU 'represents really one of our main hopes'. As a former British diplomat, Mr Pagett said the case highlights 'a chronic failure to protect your citizens abroad from injustice'. 'I think eventually a majority of British people will become more concerned about it,' he said. 'This will become a political issue, because at the moment, it's isolated cases here and there. 'Certainly, the issue is likely in the world that we are now living in to become much more of an issue.' Sir Bill Browder said the British government has 'basically been totally inactive' and that 'anything is better than nothing'. 'Ryan is a British citizen, but the British government has pretty much left him to hang out and dry. 'Given that there's a connection to Ireland, we thought that perhaps the Irish would care more about one of theirs than the British do about theirs. 'We're going to Brussels in a few weeks to meet people in the European Parliament – and particularly the Irish members of the European Parliament – and we're here in Dublin to meet with the Irish parliament, and we're trying to find any way to get him out. 'This man should not have been in prison at all, but to serve 17 years and to have his entire life ruined over this thing, it's just unfathomable.'
