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Free Jonathan O'Shea

Cork man charged with refugee escape

July 19, 2002

(09:47) An Irishman has been charged in Australia with helping 35 detainees escape from a remote refugee camp.

Jonathan O'Shea, a 22-year-old backpacker from County Cork, was refused bail at a court near the Woomera camp. He is due in court again next week.

The mass escape took place three weeks ago. Among the escapees were two brothers from Afghanistan, aged 14 and 12, who arrived at the British Consulate in Melbourne.

Alamdar and Muntazer Baktiari’s pleas were turned down and they have now been returned to Woomera, 600 miles away.