Ireland – RTE, June 05, 2025
Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed that Robert Pether who has been held in jail in Iraq for over four years has been released on bail.
The Australian national – who had been living in Elphin in Co Roscommon – was arrested in April 2021 and later jailed on fraud charges.
The United Nations had described it as an arbitrary detention.
This evening, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the development is “welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert’s wife, three children and his wider family and friends”.
Mr Harris said the Foreign Minister of Iraq, whom he had spoken to last month to urge Mr Pether’s release, informed him this evening of the news.
