Embassy monitoring detained Irish baby

IRISH embassy officials in London have made contact with British authorities to inquire about the detention for more than two weeks of a one-year-old, Irish-born girl.

While no formal approach has been made to the embassy about the detention of Percieliz Ikolo, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the consular section has made inquiries on foot of media reports of the case.

Dublin-born Percieliz and her mother, Mercy, are being held in the Dungavel detention centre in Scotland after being picked up in the North by British immigration officials.

“Contacts were made by our embassy in London. The consular section would have made the call to determine the facts of the case and to see that they are being treated fairly,” said a spokeswoman.

Ms Ikolo, who is from Cameroon, said she and her daughter were travelling back to Dublin following a visit to Scotland when they were picked up and taken to the centre.

The mother has been living in Ireland since last year. Her baby was born at the Rotunda last summer, shortly after her mother arrived in the country. She then applied for residency.

Supporters in Dublin have hired a solicitor in Scotland to deal with the case. Details of Ms Ikolo’s residency in Ireland have been sent to the solicitor, along with confirmation that Percieliz was born here.

The pair have been held for the last 15 days in the centre. It is a closed facility, surrounded by barbed wire and uniformed guards.

There has already been one attempt to deport Ms Ikolo and Percieliz. They were taken to Glasgow Airport and, Ms Ikolo said, told they were being sent to Uganda in East Africa.

“I told them I was from Cameroon, that I’ve never been in Uganda. I asked them why did they want to send me to Uganda.” After arguing her case she was returned to Dungavel.