There Were Jubilant Scenes As Ibrahim Halawa Landed At Dublin Airport This Morning

James Fenton

After being locked up in an Egyptian prison for the past four years, Ibrahim Halawa has now officially landed on Irish soil.

Crowds of supporters gathered at Dublin Airport early to welcome Ibrahim home…

Large media presence @DublinAirport for the return of #IbrahimHalawa. pic.twitter.com/70dQ8Sf3zf

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) October 24, 2017

Friends and people who’ve campaigned for Ibrahim Halawa now gathering in Dublin Airport pic.twitter.com/GgJ3bu9w2E

— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) October 24, 2017

He has landed and is meeting family when he’s through that there’s the media pic.twitter.com/e8ZUPPo4nf

— Colman O’Sullivan (@colmanos) October 24, 2017

Seán O’Regan, Ambassador of Ireland to Egypt, posted these pictures alongside Halawa on his flight…

Dawn. A new day. A new beginning. It was a pleasure to see you home safely Ibrahim. All very best for the future. #Halawa #IbrahimHalawa pic.twitter.com/NsR1VoI4wr

— Seán O Regan (@SeanOReganIRL) October 24, 2017

He finally landed just after 11am…

Ibrahim Halawa hugging his best friends on return pic.twitter.com/UZfutHr3YQ

— Stephanie Rohan (@StephGrogan3) October 24, 2017

Breaking: #ibrahim Halawa is home pic.twitter.com/agRzaONZOg

— Newstalk (@NewstalkFM) October 24, 2017

“It just feels great to be innocent. I’m as Irish as can be” #ibrahimhalawa #iestaff pic.twitter.com/LRiQwMymcf

— Joyce Fegan (@JoyceFegan) October 24, 2017

Ibraham Halawa is Home! @dfatirl pic.twitter.com/euzfSgnHeV

— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 24, 2017

With Ibrahim Halawa family…Welcome Home…. pic.twitter.com/HePuHNxmgl

— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 24, 2017

Huge media turnout for Ibraham Halawa pic.twitter.com/g3usXPSFc8

— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 24, 2017

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim met with his family in a private area of Dublin Airport

Delighted to welcome home Ibrahim Halawa. Well done to all colleagues who have worked for this day. Full statement @ https://t.co/vj7zHEX4pn pic.twitter.com/km1h2pzrRS

— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) October 24, 2017

Minister Simon Coveney said:

“I am delighted to confirm that Ibrahim Halawa has arrived back in Ireland and been reunited with his family.

“This is a very happy day for Ibrahim and his family and a day of great joy also for all his friends and supporters.

“I and all of my colleagues in Government are very pleased that Ibrahim’s ordeal is now at an end and that he is back home with his family.

“There will be many challenges for Ibrahim as he comes to terms with all that he has been through and all the changes that have taken place while he has been detained in Egypt.

“He will need time and space in the period ahead and I hope that his privacy and that of his family will be respected.”

(header pic: @KZapponeTD on Twitter)