JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell must freeze the planned deportation of 11,500 asylum-seeking families until the test case on their claim for residency is heard in the High Court.

TWENTY-TWO Irish children have left Ireland with their deported parents since a landmark Supreme Court judgement last year and more than 400 orders to leave have been served.

A group of civil liberties campaigners has called on the Government to show compassion towards immigrants affected by last year’s Supreme Court ruling on the parents of Irish-born children.