Dublin woman seeks return from Ecuador jail

A Dublin mother-of-two serving an eight-year prison sentence in Ecuador for drug smuggling is launching a bid to be transferred…

A Dublin mother-of-two serving an eight-year prison sentence in Ecuador for drug smuggling is launching a bid to be transferred to an Irish jail.

Roisin Zoe Savage is to meet with the Irish Honorary Consul in Quito, Ecuador tomorrow to discuss her repatriation.

Her family are very concerned about her and her mother is in poor health at the moment
Fianna Fail TD Pat Carey

Last month Ecuador signed up to the Strasbourg Convention which stipulates that foreign inmates can see out their sentences in jails in their home country.

Ms Savage was jailed after two-and-a-half kilos of cocaine were found in her luggage at Quito airport in February 2003. However the freelance journalist claims the drugs were planted in her luggage.

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The 29-year-old, who is held in the Centre de Detencion Provisional with 420 other women, has lodged an appeal but no date has been set yet for hearing it.

Honorary Consul in Ecuador, Dominique Kennedy makes monthly visits and stays in weekly phone contact. "On her most recent visit she delivered food, money and other essential items to Ms Savage," said a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

"Ms Savage recently indicated to our representative that she has engaged a new lawyer." Fianna Fail TD Pat Carey, who once taught in a Dublin school attended by Ms Savage and has taken up her case, said he was hopeful she would be sent home soon.

"The Irish Honorary Counsel is meeting Zoe tomorrow and we'll see what comes from that.

"The authorities there are expected to release some prisoners in mid-September but the Convention is not due to come into effect until November 1st.

"There is considerable political instability in Ecuador and Zoe should be speedily repatriated when she is eventually released.

"Her family are very concerned about her and her mother is in poor health at the moment," he added.

PA