Ibrahim Halawa speaks out about his appearance on the Late Late

The return of Ibrahim Halawa home to Ireland was a momentous occasion after his four years imprisonment in Egypt. Less than a week after he was back with his family, Halawa confirmed that he would give his first appearance on Irish television via the Late Late Show, in late November.

The interview itself resulted in much focus on the rumours that surrounded Halawa, instead of the unfair imprisonment he suffered through. Questions asked focused around his alleged destruction of his Irish passport and whether he was involved in the Muslim Brotherhood.

Speaking today at the University of Limerick, Ibrahim Halawa has now stated that he "wished [he'd] never done the interview. It was the biggest mistake of my life. Twenty minutes on that couch could never justify four years of torment.”

Vocalising that he felt half of the show was based on those rumours which continued to follow him, he expressed his frustration through saying “You get out of prison and they put you in another cell, it really kills you. There were times I wished I could go back to my prison cell."

However, Halawa then went on to speak highly about the University of Limerick and the support they had given him. He is repaying the favour by speaking about mental health at various universities around the country.

In response, an RTÉ spokesperson has stated the following.

"It was a wide ranging and lengthy interview about his experience, including the varied reaction in Ireland to his imprisonment.

"As such he was given the opportunity to address and clarify a number of longstanding rumours surrounding his case which had been widely circulating during his imprisonment.

"Mr Halawa was aware in advance of the interview that he would be given an opportunity to address those rumours.