Irish mother mourns €500,000 ransom demand after father kidnaps sons, aged 6 and 3, amid serious concerns for their safety

A MOTHER has spoken of her heartbreak after being asked to pay a €500,000 ransom for the return of her two sons kidnapped by their Egyptian father.

Mandy Kelly, 38, received a court a Cairo court order granting him custody of his sons Zayn, six, and Kareem, three.

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But the police were unable to implement this measure because every time they went to the address where her ex-husband lives with the children, she was not present.

A heartbroken Mandy said: “Their father keeps moving our sons from one place to another.

“I haven’t seen them since they were taken from me two and a half years ago.

“I am seriously concerned about their securityI haven’t even seen a recent photo of them and I know they haven’t been to school meanwhile.

“I was told he wouldn’t give them back to me unless I was willing to pay a six-figure ransom – which I’m not.

“I am very dismayed and frustrated.

“The Egyptian authorities are doing their best, but they can only execute the court’s decision at the address indicated on the documents.

“They called and there was no one there.

“But I’m not giving up and I will fight until my last breath to get my sons back.”

THE children were “taken by force” by their father, Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed, when the family who lived in DundalkCo Louth went on holiday to Egypt in March 2022.

I’m fighting an uphill battle, but no matter what, I’ll keep going.

Mandy Kelly

Mandy was locked in a room while the children were taken away.

She said, “I don’t have half a million. euros I want my sons back and he must not get away with it. We must not be held hostage.

“I am doing my best to be patient and work with the Egyptian authorities to find a solution.

“We know that they are still in Egypt and that their father is banned from leaving the country.

Cancelled Passports

“My sons’ Irish passports were cancelled at my request.

“I’m fighting an uphill battle, but no matter what, I’ll keep going.”

She added: “I am incredibly concerned about the well-being My children and I recently learned that they did not attend a British nursery or school in Egypt.

“Zayn is expected to be in first grade while Kareem is expected to be in second grade of preschool. I have also asked Interpol to engage with their counterparts in Egypt.”