Mum makes new appeal for help as she prepares to spend a third Christmas without her sons 

Mandy Kelly has been campaigning here and in Egypt for the return of her children Zayn and Kareem since their father abducted them in 2022. Picture: Gareth Chaney

The distraught mother of two young boys who were abducted by their father while on holiday in Egypt has made an urgent appeal for the Government’s help in securing their return as she prepares to spend her third Christmas without them.

Mandy Kelly from Co Louth has not seen her two children since March 2022 after her estranged husband locked her in an apartment during a visit to Cairo and drove away with the boys.

Despite winning two custody court cases, here and in Egypt, to have her children returned, Zayn aged 7, and Kareem, aged 4, who were born in Ireland, remain with their father Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed.

Mandy Kelly's husband Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed and her mother in law with Zayn and Kareem days before they were abducted. Ms Kelly's mother in law has since appealed an Egyptian court ruling that the children should be returned to their mum. Picture: Ciara Wilkinson

Ms Kelly’s lengthy legal campaign is now at an appeal stage, with her mother-in-law trying to overturn the ruling in Cairo’s family court, which said the boys should be returned to their mother.

Ms Kelly told the Irish Examiner that she received a “scant” welfare report on her two children in 2022.

She has repeatedly asked for updates on her sons, but Egyptian police say they do not have an address for her former husband and do not know his whereabouts.

“The Irish State said they wanted a new welfare check, but now they realise, after three years, that they cannot do it as Tusla is looking for an address for the children — the whole point is, I don’t have an address for them.

Mandy Kelly with her children Zayn and Kareem Mohamed not long before they were abducted. 

“Nobody knows where they live — but they know the school the children are in.”

Ms Kelly, who has been extensively lobbying the Irish Government to have her children returned, said: 

“After three years, the Irish State shouldn’t be recommending a welfare check, they should be saying they need an address — even for the Egyptian police to enforce the court orders at the school the boys are in.

“Nobody is pushing this. The children should be handed over to me at the Irish embassy in Cairo. I don’t understand why this cannot be sorted out.”

France interceded at a higher level 

Ms Kelly referred to a similar case in France recently, when the French government sent diplomatic notes to Egypt, and a child was returned to his mother within a year and a half.

A diplomatic note is a formal, written communication between diplomatic missions or foreign ministries, used for official business-like notifications, requests, or negotiating agreements.

“There is no reason why Irish diplomats can’t do that here,” said Ms Kelly.

“I don’t know of any diplomatic notes that have gone to Egypt regarding my children by the Irish Government.

Mandy Kelly at Government Buildings in Dublin in September after a meeting with Tánaiste Simon Harris. Picture: Gareth Chaney

“I also don’t understand why the Irish diplomats are not visiting the school where my children are attending, accompanied by police, to have them taken away to the Irish embassy where they can be met by me,” said Ms Kelly.

“That is what happened in that case in France, yet I am still here waiting, and there is no sign of any movement to get them home. This will now be their third Christmas without their mother.”

Ina statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said “it is aware of this case and has provided extensive consular assistance.

“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”