An Irish father of four held in China for two years against his will has said his illegal detention has had a “devastating impact” on his children.
Richard O’Halloran from Foxrock in Dublin has been held without charge since 2019 after he travelled to the country to resolve a dispute involving his company chairman.
In an interview with PrimeTime to be broadcast tonight, the aircraft leasing worker described his heartbreak at being separated from his family.
He said: “I’m a very hands-on father and literally within the blink of an eye that’s all gone.
“It’s very difficult for me to process but for the children it’s devastating. It’s very difficult to explain to a five year old, now seven, that Daddy’s not coming home for your birthday, your communion, your confirmation, or Christmas.”
Richard is an employee of China International Aviation Leasing Service and has become entangled in a dispute between his employer and the Chinese state.
Min Jiedong, who is the chairman of CIALS Ireland, is in jail after he was alleged to have defrauded Chinese investors through a peer-to-peer scheme to buy an aircraft.
The scheme was carried out before Richard joined the company and he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
The 45-year-old Dubliner said: “There is no reason for me to be stuck here. I should be allowed to return home.”
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