Enda Kenny under fire as Irish teen starts jail hunger strike

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has come under opposition fire for not doing enough to help free Irish teenager Ibrahim Halawa from an Egyptian jail where he has now started a hunger strike.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Kenny of having a “tepid” interest in the two- year plight of Mr Halawa, 19, as she demanded that Mr Kenny personally intervene.

“The Taoiseach should lift the phone today to contact the Egyptian prime minister and state categorically that we demand the release of our citizen and Dublin man Ibrahim Halawa,” Ms McDonald told TDs.