Irish-based Australian man released from Iraqi jail after four years

Ellen O'Donoghue

Robert Pether has been released on bail in Iraq.

The Australian national remains there for the moment as he is under a travel ban and cannot return home, it is understood.

He lived with his wife and three children in Co Roscommon before travelling to Iraq, where he was arrested and jailed on fraud charges in 2021.

The Tánaiste was informed of his release during a call with Foreign Minister Hussein of Iraq on Thursday evening.

"I am very pleased to have been informed of the release of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a cause of huge, huge concern. This is welcome news, it’s been a very long-running, and extraordinary distressing, time for Robert’s wife, for his three children, for his wider circle of family and friends in Roscommon," Simon Harris said on Newstalk.

Mr Harris welcomed it as a first step to his being allowed to return to his wife and three children in Roscommon.

"I spoke with Robert’s wife, Desree, about this positive development, and I really want to thank our diplomatic officials, people in our embassy network in the region, for their tireless work. I know significant concerns remain about Robert’s health, about the outstanding charges, and I’m going to keep working on this until we get a fully positive resolution and Robert back home with his family," the Tánaiste said.

The Irish Times reported that Mr Pether worked as an engineer and was helping to design the central bank in Baghdad, and was set to work on three hospitals.

However, there was a contract dispute between his employer and the Central Bank of Iraq, which led to him and his Egyptian work colleague Khalid Radwan being imprisoned.

The pair were sentenced to five years and fined $12 million by an Iraqi court.