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LAST UPDATE | 28 Jan 2022
DUBLIN BUSINESSMAN RICHARD O’Halloran has begun his journey home to Ireland tonight after a deal was agreed between Chinese authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs which lifted an almost three-year travel ban.
O’Halloran’s flight home left Shanghai Pudong Airport this evening, according to a family spokesperson. He is due to arrive in Dublin tomorrow.
The O’Halloran family is understood to be delighted with the news and is looking forward to having him home finally.
In a statement this afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney confirmed that the travel restrictions placed on O’Halloran in China had been lifted.
“This has been a difficult time for Mr O’Halloran and his family. The Government has been actively engaged on the matter throughout and is delighted it has reached a successful result,” the statement said.
“The Minister wishes to acknowledge the recent cooperation of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland and of the Chinese authorities, and to thank all those who have assisted in achieving this positive outcome.”
The Chinese Embassy in Ireland said in a statement that O’Halloran is expected to “fulfil his pledges and commitments” as part of the deal brokered for his return to Ireland.
“The related court in Shanghai handles Mr Richard O’Halloran’s case according to law, and the exit ban on him has already been lifted,” a spokesperson for the Embassy said.
“We notice that Richard O’Halloran has left China. It is expected that he continues to fulfil his pledges and commitment and undertake his corresponding legal obligations.”
Welcoming O’Halloran’s return home, Taoiseach Micheál Martin tweeted:
I acknowledge the work of the many people in Ireland and in China who have helped make this day happen.It has been a very difficult journey for him and his family. Thinking of them today.
The father-of-four has been prevented from leaving China since February 2019 when he travelled to Shanghai to resolve an ongoing commercial and legal issue involving the Chinese owner of the firm he works for – Dublin-based aircraft leasing company China International Aviation Leasing Service (CALS Ireland).
Min Jiedong, the chairman of CALS Ireland and main shareholder of CALS Financial Leasing (Shanghai), was arrested by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau (PSB). Min Jiedong had been detained as part of an investigation into his involvement in a peer-to-peer and crowd-fundraising scheme.
He was later jailed on allegations of fund-raising fraud and illegal acceptance of public deposits.
Among the investments made by Min was one in CALS Ireland for the purchase of an aircraft that was already on lease to Finnish airline, Finnair.
O’Halloran travelled to Shanghai in February 2019 to meet with authorities who were looking for the money returned to Chinese investors in Min Jiedong’s operations.
There were no allegations of wrongdoing against O’Halloran, but Chinese authorities refused to let the 45-year-old leave the country. O’Halloran’s time at CALS Ireland predates the time of the fundraising scheme and when the commercial agreement was concluded to acquire the aircraft.
Among the demands of the Chinese PSB (Public Security Bureau) were that CALS Ireland returns the currently-leased aircraft, and pay €36m to secure O’Halloran’s release.
With reporting from Jane Moore.
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Brilliant news
@Louise Tracey: this is just an attempt by Simon Coveney to distract us from the enquiry into some of his staff drinking a bottle of champagne when Ireland won the seat on the Security Council of the UN. You would have to be cynical. One law for the elite and another one for the rest of us.
@Ciaran O’Mara: You’re giving the government too much credit. I don’t think they had such foresight to keep this guy stuck in China for three years in case they needed a distraction from some future enquiry..
@Ciaran O’Mara: Ah stop will you.
@Ciaran O’Mara: Ciaran there is some swill posted on here day in and day out, but what you just said there beats all.
@Ciaran O’Mara: what flavour of fruit loop are you?
@Ciaran O’Mara: don’t be silly
@Ciaran O’Mara: will you give the phone back to a responsible adult please and go do your homework.
@Ciaran O’Mara: trust me when I say I absolutely despise the government but take a break mate. This is great news, nothing should detract from that.
@Ciaran O’Mara: seriously? Yeah he has been keeping this card in his back pocket waiting for the right time to use it. Is the tin foil hat snug?
@Ciaran O’Mara: Grow up this is a great news story for this poor man & you are going on about a champagne party the two are non related
@Ciaran O’Mara: so right 20 staff drinking 2 bottles of champagne after months & months of work was outrageous especially with there homeless in Ireland not allowed do the same thing ….yawn
@Míchael Búrké: Sour grapes
@Ciaran O’Mara: yeah, they’re in league with the Chinese, they’re really running the government, running it, I tells ya. If you take Adam Daly’s name, and a good fews shots of vodka, Russian involvement, doncha know, and like, kinda rearrange his name, it’s Coveney. It’s true, bloody true….
@Ciaran O’Mara: Christ. Not another one who can’t just wish the chap well after his 3 years in that k!p going through all sorts. I wonder would you have the liathroidi to say this face to face to his family, no, didn’t think so.
@Ciaran O’Mara: FFS
Finally a new guest for the Late Late.
@Emmet Daly: who doesn’t work for rte.
@Emmet Daly: very funny :)
@Niall Gannon: now tell us Richard what were your thoughts during your darkest hour? It could be worse though. He could have ended up on Ray Darcys show stand up there Richard and see how tall you are compared to me.
@John Mulligan: Wonderful news for his wife and children , Im sure the relief is unbelievable .
Thats amazing news. Thrilled for the family after 3yrs of hell. Welcome home Richard.
Welcome home Richard. Long overdue!
3 years robbed for each and every member of the family. 3 years they wi never get back. It will take some time for them all to recover. Traumatic experience just doesnt cover it. I wish them well.
@Paul Kelleher: ccp are a shower of thug
@Billybutcher: & thats the nicest thing you could say about them
@Billybutcher: indeed.
Feck all help from our government they let him languish there for 3 yrs..
Disgraceful carry on from Coveney and Co..
@PHB090: This deal has been brokered by the department of foreign affairs.Do you think because the diplomacy involved with this difficult foreign power wasn’t on twitter they did nothing?
@Niamh Hayes: Brilliant news, doubt if @PHB090 even knew the man was detained in China.
@PHB090: so should we have threatened them with the might of the Irish navy.
@John ward: the Irish fishing navy yes haha
@PHB090: Actually, the Consulate in Shanghai and Foreign Affairs Consular Division have been working on this case from day 1. The issue here is China, they are notoriously difficult to deal with in cases such as this one. They are a law unto themselves unfortunately
@Jim ***: well said. Words fail me.
@PHB090: yeah right the Chinese leadership is famous for their openness, diplomacy & willingness to release people. Get a grip!
@PHB090: shocking that over a 100 have given you the thumbs up.!
@Diarmuid Kelly: not really. He probably pays people to give him a thumbs up!
@PHB090: you have to remember that the CCP are a pack of w ankers.
@Niamh Hayes: they did almost nothing. 3 years? Did Coveney every bring it up with Chinese authorities when he met then face to face….absolutely disgraceful. Government jet sent to Egypt to collect a criminal. I hope you never have to deal with the DFA because they are about as competent as the ADAA (American dodgeball association of America)
@Niamh Hayes: You might want to look further into this. His wife and family had to fight tooth and nail to get someone to help them. They were constantly ignored by Simon Coveney and Dept.of Foreign Affairs. They went on t.v and radio to highlight his case. A lot of pressure was put to bear on Coveney and Dept.during the Afghanistan withdrawal of Irish citizens maybe this helped. Whatever the reason its great news for him and his family its been a long 3 years.
Fantastic news… I can only imagine the hugs between him and his family when they finally get to see him again…
Delighted for his family, it’s been a tough time for them
Fantastic news. I’m delighted for him and his family.
Chinese “diplomacy” at it’s finest
Don’t dispute , the government were working behind the scenes but still China has a lot to answer for . What was the deal that got him released? Did someone pay something? Or did China realise that the bad publicity was not worth it? Did our seat on the UN work in terms of getting him out? Bottom line is that he appears to be on his way home finally. Safe travels
Fair play to Peadar Toibin TD for lobbying for him.
@Brian Lenehan: with who?
@Brian Lenehan: that would be the kiss of death, for sure.
Great news
Im delighted that Richard O Halloran has finally been released by the Chinese authorities. Been held for three years with no charges against was disgraceful. Now Richard has to try and reconnect with his family. Hope the media will give them space.
Delighted and relieved for his family. Great news
About time, ridiculous it’s gone on this long, some people have a lot to answer for.
@David Keogh: Completely. If he was a British or US citizen do you think those countries would have let him be detained for that of time? Not a chance. Makes them look weak.
@Stephen Foster: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been detained in Iran since 2016…..what have the British managed to do to get her free?
@Stephen Foster: amazing that you got 29 likes for your opinion being ill informed as it is.
@Stephen Foster: thats because we are weak.
@Stephen Foster: perhaps you are unaware that there are numerous British and US citizens being held by various governments around the world – Iran, China, Russia and others- and their Governments are struggling to get them released. Dealing with dictatorships who don’t care what other countries think is difficult. Dept. of Foreign Affairs deserve some credit for continuing to pursue the issue and getting a good result , eventually.
@Baronvoncass: feel like a big man now? Others replied with informed information that I didn’t know, you on the other hand decided to be a keyboard warrior. Nice and small….
@Stephen Foster: well in the case of British yeah they would. Nazarin situation was made worse by bojo the
The Chinese: a great bunch of lads.
Good stuff. And did you know he’s a father of four, don’t think the article mentioned it.
@Mark Byrne: yes it does, at least twice.
@Mark Byrne: eh, anyone that read the article knows
@Bopper Bops Holland: @clareryan: whoosh!!
@Clare Ryan: really, must have missed that bit.
I remember hearing about this mans detention in China and Im really delighted to hear that he is coming home
Such good news for his family.
Fantastic news, long overdue
So effectively they took him hostage and demanded ransom to let him leave, or did I read the article wrong?
Fantasy news
@Niall Smyth: No. It’s reality..
@Aurelio Na Fodhla: apologies should have spell checked…fantastic news I meant
@Niall Smyth: spelling error! Fantastic News
I love yo know the details of the deal and what about the €36m they wanted back. But a good news story today for a change
Its a disgrace that democratic western countries are and doing business with china .
Their human rights record is abysmal , olympics should be boycotted and the west should turn its back on them
@blue exile: in a utopian world we all should boycott China but the world would grind to a halt.
@Diarmuid Dorney: as would china. No natural resources to speak of.
All it would take is our leaders to show some courage and determination to pull it off.
Great that he is returning home but never forget what this represents; state sponsored kidnapping by the CCP of foreign citizens and held to ransom for the flimsiest of reasons, with the embassy here being passive aggressive and doing nothing to help. China should be boycotted until they live in the 21st century and actually cop on with their awful human rights record.
@Ciaran O’Mara:
Yeah, so the govt secretly colluded with the Chinese to have Richard O’ Halloran released in order to “distract from ” the champagne party?
I lived in China four years. It is akin to having teeth pulled trying to argue with them over simple things like a complimentary coffee that was supposed to be included in a meal.
I would love to know what quid pro quo was worked out with those @$$h○les so as to facilitate this “distraction” you allege
SUCH good news!! Why did it take so long??
Absolutely delighted for Richard and his family. Really terrible how China thought they could hold this man without due reason.
“Recent co operation”. I think that says it all.
Incredible news!! He can finely put his nightmare behind him and continue with his life. Up you the CCP
Just saw about the eye watering 36 million?! This is so weird. I wonder did we pay it. Glad he’s home anyway, must be traumatised
@Scarletrose: wonder did we ask for a Covid discount? The amount of Covid PPE that we have shelled out should have well covered it
Should have been sorted out after 3 months
Jaysis the Chinese are just strange folk to be honest.
This is great news!
Terrific news, Irish citizen returns home after all these years away.
Would have been home earlier if the Cork Fishermen were on the case
Delighted for you Richard
We want to thank the Chinese government for accepting our 36 million pay off to return our “Kidnapped” citizen. Great news though , happy for him and his family.
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