McDowell refuses to act on deportation of mother and children

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has said he will not intervene to prevent a single mother in hospital and her five children from being deported to Nigeria.

Elizabeth Onasanwo, who saw her sister die as a result of female genital mutilation, fled Nigeria in 1999 when her house was burnt to the ground by militant youths who accused her of stealing from them. Some of her activities involved speaking out against the Nigerian government on behalf of local youth groups.

Her case has become one of the most high profile deportation struggles in recent months as the Government continues to increase its rate of repatriations.