Members of the Halawa family here and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore were last night awaiting developments over reports in Cairo that the four Irish people who have been detained by Egyptian authorities may face criminal charges.

It is hard to see what impact, if any, the EU can have on the bloody conflict that continues to ravage Egypt.

Diplomatic efforts were continuing last night in a bid to ensure the safety of four Irish-Egyptian siblings who were among protestors arrested in Cairo at the weekend.