MIDDLE EAST: An Irish nurse who was arrested by Israeli forces after the end of the siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem has been deported.
Ms Mary Kelly, from Baltimore in West Cork, was due in London last night after being deported on a flight from Tel Aviv airport. She is expected to arrive in Ireland today or tomorrow.
She had been on hunger strike since she was arrested along with seven other peace activists when the Israeli army lifted its five-week siege of the Bethlehem church last Friday.
Ms Kelly was "very angry" at her treatment at the hands of the Israeli forces, according to Ms Georgina Reeves, a spokeswoman for the International Solidarity Movement, to which Ms Kelly belonged.
According to Ms Reeves, the arrested activists were taken to a police lock-up at Ma'ale Aduman, an illegal settlement east of Jerusalem. On Sunday, they were transferred to Ramle, a low-security women's prison, where they were held until their deportation.
Ms Reeves, who visited Ms Kelly at the weekend, said she was "physically tired" from her ordeal, but otherwise in good health. "She was just very angry at what has happened, as we all are."
A Department of Foreign Affairs official declined to comment on individual consular cases, but did confirm that Ms Kelly had been deported. Before leaving, she had received consular assistance from the Irish Embassy at Ramallah, the spokeswoman said.
The activists gained access to the Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Christ, on May 2nd. As the only nurse among the group, she provided medical assistance to the wounded.
