Richard O’Halloran has been reunited with his family after three years of forced separation in China.
The businessman had been prevented from leaving the country after Beijing imposed an exit ban on him amid a dispute between authorities and the aircraft leasing firm that employed him.
Richard had not seen his wife, Tara, and their children, Ben, Amber, Bella and Scarlett for three years and the family tweeted that they were “so unbelievably happy to have him back”.
Thank you everyone for all your support. We are so unbelievably happy to have him back… pic.twitter.com/HCvehlOw7n
— Tara O’Halloran (@tara_ohalloran) January 29, 2022
Michael Kingston, a lawyer and close friend of Richard’s, said he was disappointed at how long it had taken to secure his release.
“It’s very important to point out, this was a complete breach of human rights of an Irish citizen who was acting in the ordinary course of business,” Mr Kingston told Newstalk.
“And that we as a nation made a big play of becoming members of the Security Council of the United Nations but we seem to have forgotten about the interests and humanitarian issues of our own citizens.”
— Tara O’Halloran (@tara_ohalloran) January 29, 2022
Speaking to The Hard Shoulder on Friday, former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan described the case as having been “complex” and “difficult” for the Irish Government:
“This was a time of great anxiety and trauma for the family over a period of three years.
"This is a day of great relief - Richard is on way home to his family... where he should be.
"The only pity was that it took so long: it was complex, it was difficult, but it's good news today."
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Deputy Flanagan added that the case also served as a warning about the risks of working in certain countries:
“The fact of the matter here is that doing business in China is not like doing business in Ireland.
"It's a different business system, it's a different business culture, it's a different regulatory system, it's a different juridical system.
"People should be pretty weary about doing any business in a foreign jurisdiction where the rules and regulations are not similar to those that exist in Ireland".
Deputy Flanagan thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland for his help with the case and said the Irish Government’s involvement had been limited to providing Richard with consular assistance:
"My involvement, and indeed the involvement of any TDs - and of course the involvement of Simon Coveney in particular and the Department of Foreign Affairs - was to provide consular assistance to an Irish citizen.
"We weren't involved in the business case here - we weren't involved in the intricacies of business, who did what in terms of this man's private business.
"Our concern was from a humanitarian point of view, and I'm pleased that that worked out."
Main image: A sign for Arrivals at Dublin Airport. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie.
