Tanaiste Simon Harris has vowed to bring Iraq "hostage" Robert Pether home to Ireland by continuing his efforts "until Mr Pether is released."
The campaign intensification is also being cranked up with Dail TD Claire Kerrane pledging that it is time "to end this terror for Robert and his family". Former senator Eugene Murphy has also amplified calls for Rob to be freed and pledged that he is ready to travel to Baghdad to push for his release.
Internationally, Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and America’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs have also demanded his freedom.
Construction engineer Rob, 49, who is married to Desree Pether, 53, from Roscommon, has been locked up since April 2021. He was jailed over four years ago in a €20 million contract row between his Dubai-based employer and the Central Bank of Iraq.
Rob’s wife Desree pleaded yesterday in the Irish Mirror for people to "fight" for Rob’s release from prison in Baghdad. Foreign Affairs Minister Harris, who is the Tanaiste, has confirmed to The Irish Mirror that he will now meet Desree.
His spokesperson said: "The Tanaiste has confirmed he will meet Mrs Pether, a meeting will be scheduled in the near future. The Department is actively engaged on the case of Mr Pether. As Mr Pether is an Australian national, the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade is the relevant consular authority for his case.
"The Irish Government has also been very active to try and secure Mr Pether’s release, in support of Australia’s efforts. The Department is in regular contact with the Pether family, and the case has been raised with the Iraqi Embassy in Dublin, in visits to Baghdad by Ireland’s ambassador to Iraq and directly by Irish ministers with Iraqi ministers."
He added: "We will continue those efforts until Mr Pether is released."
Dail TD Claire Kerrane has liaised with Rob’s family at Elphin in Roscommon, including his wife Desree and the couple’s children Flynn, 21, Oscar, 19, and Nala, 12. She told the Irish Mirror: "Robert has now served over four years in prison in Iraq and we now need to see an intensification of efforts for his release.
"The Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed to me that he will meet Desree and we need to see a date for this meeting urgently. While Ireland is somewhat limited as Robert is an Australian citizen, Ireland is Robert's home and we need to do everything possible to end this terror for him and his family."
Deputy Kerrane posted on X: "Robert Pether should be at home in county Roscommon with his beloved family. That is where he belongs. Ireland stands with Australia in making this call."
Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong posted: "Australian citizen Robert Pether has now been in prison in Iraq for four years. He has served the custodial sentence imposed on him by the Iraqi courts. It’s time for him to be returned to his family."
Rob, who is from Australia but his home is Elphin in Roscommon, applied for Irish citizenship before he was sentenced to four years in prison. Several attempts to appeal his case in court were blocked in Iraq and he was refused release when his four-year term expired on January 8 past. Instead, he was hit with fresh charges, including allegations of money laundering, which he denies.
A spokesperson for America’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs (SPEHA) posted: "We stand with our Australian partners in calling for the release of Robert Pether, following the end of his custodial sentence. We hope to see him reunited with his family as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, former senator Eugene Murphy, who highlighted Rob’s harrowing case after his initial arrest, has now offered to go to Iraq to end his nightmare. Mr Murphy told the Irish Mirror: "We’re hoping that this tragic saga can come to an end as soon as possible to stop the suffering of Rob and his family.
"Deputy Kerrane and myself met officials in the Iraqi embassy. It is a dreadful, horrific situation. It is so sad to see his kids growing up without their dad. I had contemplated going to Iraq before, but it didn’t happen. I would be happy and delighted to bring this to a conclusion.
"I am working behind the scenes and it would be a difficult trip, but this case troubles me so much that I would do that."
Rob’s wife Desree told us that Rob is currently so "very sick" that he is now "unrecognisable" with "bones protruding" from his skin. She said: "We have been trying for this [US involvement] for some time." She added: "He absolutely should never have been arrested and he should not be imprisoned in Iraq. He being used as a hostage in a dispute by the Central Bank of Iraq. This is enough. Let him go. Before it is too late."
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