Irish short film wins Oscar, but actor gets deported before show begins

CONTROVERSIAL Irish playwright Martin McDonagh celebrated an Oscar triumph in Los Angeles on Sunday night but the star of McDonagh’s short film was deported by US immigration before the ceremony even began.

Ruaidhrí Conroy, who came to fame as a child actor in Into The West, was prevented from attending the Academy Awards ceremony by US immigration, which held him in custody for 22 hours in Los Angeles airport, citing visa irregularities, before putting him back on a plane to London.

It meant Conroy had to give up on his seat in the Kodak Theatre in downtown LA, missing out on seeing McDonagh accept the award for Six Shooter as Best Live Action Short film, but writer-director McDonagh made sure to mention Conroy as he collected his trophy.