06-05-2025
Mother of two boys abducted by their father issues fresh appeal to the government for help
Mandy Kelly's sons Zayn (6) and Kareem (3) were taken by their father Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed in 2022 while on a family holiday to his native Egypt.
Mandy Kelly, whose two children were abducted by their father in Egypt. Photo: Mark Condren
The mother of two young boys who were abducted by their father has issued a fresh appeal to the Irish government to help bring her sons home.
Mandy Kelly's sons Zayn (6) and Kareem (3) were taken by their father Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed in 2022 while on a family holiday to his native Egypt.
Even though Egyptian courts have given full custody to Mandy, and Irish courts have issued a return order, the children remain with their father somewhere in Cairo, a city of 11 million people.
The Dundalk mother has issued the appeal as Ireland and Egypt mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.
'It is my earnest hope that the occasion of this historic diplomatic milestone may also serve as an opportunity for both governments to affirm their mutual commitment to the principles of international law, justice, and the protection of vulnerable citizens, particularly children,' she said in a statement.
Ms Kelly also thanked the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste, Mr. Simon Harris, for his 'steadfast support of her case and his renewed commitment to engage with the Egyptian authorities on her behalf.'
She has been fighting for her sons to be returned to her care since 2022.
Read more Irish mum of kidnapped boys calls on Government to issue Interpol alert
Mandy and her husband brought their two sons on holiday to Egypt so their family could meet newborn Kareem
On the day they were due to fly back to Ireland, Rami told Mandy he would not be returning, and neither were her sons.
He then fled with the young boys, and demanded that if she wanted to see them again, she had to return to Ireland and sell their family home.
Last month, she travelled to Egypt for the sixth time and appeared before the courts as her mother-in-law appealed the custody application, which was denied to her in December 2024. However, her mother-in-law failed to appear, resulting in an adjournment of the case.
While in Egypt, she met with a senior official from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice who gave updates on the case and advised that the Egyptian Embassy in Ireland have discussed 'the potential negotiation of a bilateral agreement on matters relating to child abduction' with the Irish Department of Justice.
There are outstanding arrest warrants issued by Ireland and the EU for Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed.
He is also the subject of an INTERPOL blue notice - the purpose of which is to gather information about a person's activities, including their location in relation to a criminal investigation.
Mandy appeared on Crime World in 2024 and gave an interview about her ordeal.
'I offered to have both his Irish arrest warrant and a European arrest warrant dropped, in exchange for my children. But that was also ignored….And all the while I know my children are in the hands of people that don't really care.
Mandy Kelly and her children, Zayn (5) and Kareem (3). Ms Kelly hasn't seen the boys since 2022
'They're just using them as pawns,' she told host Nicola Tallant.
'My two sons are actually being held as hostages…I haven't seen them since they were three years old and 18 months.
'I have to put my faith in Egyptian police to find them,' she continued.
She also opened up about suffering domestic abuse at the hands of her husband.
'Looking back, I could have been more wary of his motives' she said.
'It started with a phase of love bombing, then slowly he devalued and degraded me… If the abuse was everyday, you would leave, but when you get sprinkles of kindness, it can be very difficult; they distort your reality.'
Once Zayn was born, Mandy says her husband became even more controlling. 'He knew he had me', she explained.
'I had a very young baby at the time, I just wanted to keep the peace'.
In Ireland, Mandy found herself trapped in a cycle of control despite being the breadwinner and primary caregiver.
'There were incredibly aggressive outbursts and he used disgusting, manipulative tactics, preventing me from socialising and isolating me from my family, so I had to rely on him,' she said.
'I hoped the trip would help him destress and return to Ireland in a much better place.
'It was ultimately one of the worst decisions I have ever made.'
