Ireland – The Sun, Dec. 06, 2025
The wife of a Roscommon man still stuck in Iraq after being released from prison has told of her agony as she fights to get him home for Christmas.
Robert Pether, 50, had been detained in 2021 and jailed on fraud charges amid a contract dispute between the consulting firm he worked for and the Central Bank of Iraq.
His wife Desree, 53, insisted he was found guilty of deception in a “kangaroo court” and after a lengthy campaign he was released from jail in June.
But he has not been allowed to leave the Middle East country over “outstanding fines and possible further proceedings”.
Desree, 53, said she, and kids Flynn 21, Oscar 20, and Nala, 12, are desperate to get him back home to Elphin as soon as possible.
She said: “A fifth Christmas without Robert quickly approaches. Not fair. Not right. Not humane. Not civilised. Choices are made weekly to continue breaking international laws.”
She said Robert—- who previously survived melanoma cancer and now has prostate cancer — had been left looking “unrecognisable” following his ordeal.
The Irish Government has pledged to ramp up efforts to help bring home Robert — who is stuck with no ID, visa or income.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said: “The subject of this case is an Australian citizen, and so primary consular responsibility falls to Australia.
