Taoiseach must make the case that Ibrahim is an innocent Irishman

ENDA KENNY must pick up and phone and demand the release of Ibrahim Halawa. Call the release “extradition” if it makes it easier. Extradition to Ibrahim’s own country, which is Ireland.

The Taoiseach needs to feel in his heart the terror of this young man and the pain of this family and demand his return. He needs to speak to someone as close as possible to the Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh el Si-Si and make it plain that this Irish boy must come home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and the Department of Foreign Affairs tell us repeatedly that they are doing everything they can to secure the release of this Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience. Last weekend when Ibrahim’s trial was postponed yet again, this time until April 26, we were told that the Irish authorities were “in sustained and direct contact with the Egyptian authorities” and that “embassy officials, including the ambassador, have visited (Ibrahim) on more than 30 occasions”.