Ibrahim Halawa Has Been Released And Will Return To Ireland In The Coming Days

Ibrahim Halawa is expected to return to Ireland on Sunday or Monday following his release from prison in Egypt.

The 21-year-old was released at 11pm last night having spent four years in prison for his part in a mass protest in Cairo in 2013.

Speaking to RTÉ's 'Morning Ireland', Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said:

"The timing and problem with that is we are in the Egyptian weekend, which is Friday and Saturday. That office is not open on a Friday and has very limited opening on a Saturday so we are obviously working to get him home as quickly as possible but it will be either Sunday or Monday by the time he is home I suspect."

President Michael D. Higgins released a statement reacting to the news which says:

"The release of Ibrahim Halawa will come as a great relief to his family. It will be welcomed by all those who were concerned for him in his long ordeal of imprisonment. I wish Ibrahim Halawa well on his journey home."