Charlie Flanagan 'deeply disappointed' as Ibrahim Halawa trial postponed for 14th time
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has said he is deeply disappointed and concerned at the latest delay in the Egyptian trial of Dublin man Ibrahim Halawa.
Minister Flanagan said he would be asking for more information on the review of technical evidence cited as the reason for delay today.
The Irish Ambassador to Egypt was in court for today's trial, which has now been put off until October 2.
It is the 14th time the Dubliner's court date has been deferred. Ibrahim was 17 when he was arrested for taking part in a protest in Cairo in August 2013.
Amnesty International Ireland's Colm O'Gorman said the latest delay indicates the evidence has not been scrutinised before now.
He said: "The judge staggeringly said he wants to instruct a committee of experts to examine video evidence in the trial...which seems to mean the system hasn't even properly assessed the evidence in the case."
The trial of Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt has been postponed again, its 14th postponement. It had been hoped a decision would be made today.
Ibrahim Halawa is due to go on trial in Egypt today following 13 postponements already.
The 20-year-old Dubliner has been in jail for almost three years awaiting the mass trial. He was arrested for taking part in a protest in Cairo in August 2013.
Colm O'Gorman of Amnesty International said a decision could be made today.
"We learned a couple of months ago at the last hearing that the judge expects to be able to make a decision in the case, which in some ways is troubling because no proper trial has taken place," he said.
"Nonetheless, we very much hope that when the trial concludes, Ibrahim will be acquitted. We can't see any grounds on which he could be convicted."
