Ibrahim Halawa: Acquitted Irish student freed four years after jailing in Egypt mass trial

An Irish student who was wrongly jailed in Egypt at the age of 17 amid 2013's Muslim Brotherhood protests has been freed four years on.

Ibrahim Halawa's release, which was announced on his supporters' Facebook page, comes four weeks after he was formally acquitted over the so-called Day of Rage protests in Cairo.

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins welcomed news of the release of the 21-year-old, who is the son of a prominent Muslim cleric in Dublin, as a "great relief to his family".

"It will be welcomed by all those who were concerned for him in his long ordeal of imprisonment," he said.

"I wish Ibrahim Halawa well on his journey home."

Mr Halawa was prosecuted in a mass trial after being detained during a siege at a mosque amid the protests in August 2013.

The protests over then Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi were known as the Muslim Brotherhood's so-called Day of Rage.

Mr Halawa's three sisters were also among 500 arrested in Cairo and accused of inciting violence, riots and sabotage.

They were later released on bail, returned to the family home in Dublin and were acquitted following trial in absentia.

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and campaigning Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan were among those celebrating Mr Halawa's freedom.

The Facebook post celebrating his release read: "Fantastic news, Ibrahim has finally been released from prison.

"We will now begin to make arrangements to bring him home where he belongs in Ireland.

"We can't thank enough all those who worked so hard for Ibrahim's release, we owe you all so much."