Irish prisoner seeks repatriation from Ecuador

An Irish mother of two who was sentenced to eight years in prison in Ecuador for alleged drug-smuggling is seeking to serve the rest of her sentence in Ireland.

Thirty-year-old freelance journalist Roisin Zoe Savage, originally from Dublin, is to meet with the Irish consular service tomorrow to discuss her repatriation.

Last month, Ecuador signed up to the Strasbourg Convention which means that foreign inmates can be expatriated.

Ms Savage was jailed after two-and-a-half kilos of cocaine were found in her luggage at Quito airport in February 2003.

She claims the drugs were planted in her luggage.

Speaking about the case today, Fianna Fáil TD Pat Carey said he was hopeful Ms Savage would be sent home within the next month.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed in the hope that this is correct,” he said.