A school friend of Ibrahim Halawa has described his return home as a 'joyous day'.

The 21-year-old Dubliner resumes his life in Ireland today, after spending more than four years in an Egyptian prison.

He was cleared of all charges last month following his arrest in Cairo 2013 during a political protest.

He arrived back in Dublin Airport on Tuesday to jubilant scenes.

Ibrahim's friend, Pete Moloney, last saw him when they were both just 17.

He told Newstalk Breakfast: "It was just an absolute joyous day, a great day for him and an even better day for his family who've been fighting for the last four years, fighting his corner and never ever stopped.

"The first thing he said to me was 'Pete, you're tall' and I said 'A lot has changed man, it's been four years.'

"And then after that we had a laugh and he just kept thanking me and thanking me - and then we just kept hugging, just couldn't stop".

"Four years have gone by of just hell for him".

"He would have been finished college if none of this had happened, so it's nuts to think of."

"His health - as everyone heard about the hunger strikes and all - he's seen better days but they've been looking after him now since he got out.

"And as jokes have been going on he's just been eating - he's been eating and eating and eating now trying to get his health back, his energy back and just his all-round bubbliness back".