‘I had another experience of Simon Harris’, says mother of abducted sons

Irish Mother Praises Taoiseach Amidst Criticism, Pleas for Abducted Children’s Return

Mandy Kelly, an Irish mother whose two young sons were abducted by their father in Egypt nearly three years ago, has publicly praised Taoiseach Simon Harris for his personal support and commitment to her case, despite recent criticism of his handling of an encounter with a care worker.

Three years ago, Kelly’s world was shattered when her husband, Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed, took their sons, Kareem (3) and Zayn (5), both Irish citizens born in Dundalk, Co. Louth, from their holiday accommodation in Egypt. Since then, Kelly has been engaged in a desperate fight to secure the return of her children.

While both the Irish High Court and Egyptian family courts have awarded Kelly full custody, enforcing this remains a monumental challenge. Mohamed has evaded authorities by "fleeing from house-to-house" according to Kelly, making their recapture and return to Ireland incredibly difficult.

Kelly’s comments come in the wake of public scrutiny directed at Harris following a viral video of a tense exchange with care worker Charlotte Fallon in Cork. The Taoiseach has since apologized for the incident, acknowledging that his choice of words and tone were unacceptable.

Despite this controversy, Kelly shared a starkly different experience with Harris. Speaking to BreakingNews.ie from Egypt, Kelly emphasized the Taoiseach’s personal commitment to her case: "Despite a demanding campaign schedule, Mr. Harris took time out specifically to meet with me in private, away from the cameras and glare of the media, because he was very concerned about Kareem, Zayn and I."

She continued, "He pledged his support to me and I have every reason to believe him because he didn’t do it publicly for votes, but privately to reassure me of the Government’s commitment to every Irish citizen – even my two vulnerable boys. Simon Harris may have made a poor choice in Cork when dealing with that carer. It was unacceptable. He has said so himself. But I have had another experience of Mr Harris – one in which he took time with me privately, listened intently and pledged his support."

Kelly expressed her hope that Harris would continue to raise the issue of her sons’ abduction with the highest levels of the Egyptian government, building on the efforts already undertaken.

This story raises complex questions about international parental abduction, legal jurisdiction, and the role of government intervention in such sensitive cases. Kelly’s story highlights the devastating impact of parental abduction on families and the urgent need for international cooperation to ensure the safe return of abducted children.

Kelly plans to return to Ireland on election day, aiming to bring further attention to the plight of her sons. She hopes to leverage the public forum to advocate for their safe return and underscore the importance of addressing this issue both nationally and internationally.

What are your thoughts on international child abduction cases and how can governments better support families like Mandy Kelly’s? Share your views in the comments below.