High Court halts boy’s deportation
Olivia Agbonlahor claims deportation to Nigeria will adversely affect her four-year-old son who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and associated conditions.
The injunction application was made yesterday by Proinsias O Maolchalain, for Olivia Agbonlahor, following a review of her case by the Minister for Justice last month in which the minister concluded he was satisfied the applicant’s child was not autistic and he made a deportation order.
It is claimed on behalf of Ms Agbonlahor that the minister erred in law in making that decision and acted in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights provisions relating to respect for the private life of her son and his ability to function socially.
If returned to Nigeria, her son would be treated as an outcast because of his condition, it was claimed.
Ms Agbonlahor, aged 36, a mother of four-year-old twins Great and Melissa, who were born in Italy, arrived in Ireland in March 2003 and settled in Clonakilty, Co Cork.
Mr Justice John McMenamin granted the interim injunction, returnable to Monday next, restraining the deportation.
In legal papers, it was stated Ms Agbonlahor had married Martins Agbonlahor, a prominent and controversial author, in 1993. They later travelled to Italy where they secured residence permits, and their twin children were born there in March 2001.
Ms Agbonlahor said she later fled Italy because she feared persecution due to her relationship with Mr Agbonlahor, an outspoken critic of criminality among the Nigerian expatriate community in Italy.
