‘Nobody Will Tell Me Anything’: Irish Father Banned From Leaving China for 2 Years Speaks Out

Richard O’Halloran, an Irish businessman banned from leaving China for two years, is seen talking to Yvonne Murray (not visible) from RTÉ in Shanghai, in this image taken from a video interview broadcasted on Feb. 18, 2021. Courtesy of RTÉ

An Irish businessman and father of four who’s been banned from leaving China for two years has spoken out to the media for the first time.

Richard O'Halloran, 45, a director of China International Aviation Leasing Service (CALS), left his Dublin home in February 2019 for Shanghai, China. What he thought was a short business trip turned out to be two years in limbo, after he was caught up in an investigation into his employer Min Jiedong’s crowdfunding activities.