O'Neill asks taoiseach to help return boy from Lebanon

Catherine Flanagan is seeking the return of her son David to Northern Ireland

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has written to Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris to ask for Irish government assistance in securing the return of a young boy from Lebanon.

Earlier this week, Catherine Flanagan from Belfast said she had been battling to get her son David back after he was taken by his father and family.

The High Court in Belfast ruled in 2023 that David must be returned to Northern Ireland.

He was to be handed over on or before 17:00 on 18 August 2023 at Frankfurt Airport in Germany, but that did not happen.

In January of this year, Catherine said she was told by her former husband that if she came to Lebanon, she would get her son.

“David’s father had given assurances that if I came to Lebanon, that he would give me David back, but he didn’t,” she told BBC News NI.

“When I got there [Lebanon], I was brought to their house in Beirut and from the beginning I had no freedom whatsoever.

“I wasn’t allowed to go out without them with me, I wasn’t allowed to go to the mall, I wasn’t allowed to take David out, I wasn’t allowed to even be alone in the room with David.”

Ms Flanagan, whose story was first reported by UTV, said she felt “deeply controlled” in Lebanon.

Catherine says it is "desperately painful" being away from David

Ms Flanagan said it was “desperately painful” being separated from her son and that she does not know where he currently is.

“Your mind is always on him, anything I am doing, I am thinking about him," she said.

“I am so worried about the security situation in Lebanon as well, the bombings and the real heightened tensions.”

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon due to ongoing conflict in the region.

“If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave, while commercial options remain available,” the office advises.

“Tensions are high and events could escalate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon.”

Diplomatic intervention

Ms Flanagan has appealed to the Irish and UK governments for assistance and has called for a “diplomatic solution” to the case.

"[DUP leader] Gavin Robinson has been pushing and I’ve been in contact with [Sinn Féin leader] Mary Lou MacDonald's office, Michelle O’Neill and Deirdre Hargey,” Ms Flanagan said.

In a statement, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Michelle O’Neill has written to the Taoiseach asking for Irish government diplomatic intervention in the case.”

Earlier this month, the Irish government intervened in the case of Tori Towey, a woman from County Roscommon who was facing criminal charges in the United Arab Emirates.

She returned to Ireland several days after her situation was raised in the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament).

The Taoiseach’s office has been approached for comment on Ms Flanagan's case.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is in contact with the citizen in question.