Irishman cleared for US return to pregnant wife

A MAN who was refused permission to return to the US, after a brief visit home last Christmas, is to return there and be reunited with his pregnant wife.

The nightmare for Jimmy Murphy from Newcastle West, Co Limerick, will end tomorrow when he flies out to Chicago’s O’Hare airport from Shannon.

Mr Murphy, 35, said: “Our life has been torn apart for six months. But, thank God it’s all over now and we can resume our lives.”

The ordeal began innocently enough when Mr Murphy and his US-born wife, Rachelle, took advantage of a cheap flight offer to Ireland, last Christmas.

However, when the couple arrived at Shannon on January 6 for the transatlantic return, Mr Murphy was turned away by US immigration officials.

They informed him he had not obtained a special permit to allow him leave the US while his application for US citizenship was at the initial stages. Officials rejected his protests that he was unaware of the regulation.

His wife, however, continued her journey to Sioux City, Iowa where Jimmy had been accepted into the reserve police force.

While holding down a day job on a floating casino on the Mississippi river, he was doing law studies at night to become a full- time member of the sheriff’s department. His wife, due to give birth in August, had to go into hospital due to stress brought on by her husband’s absence.

Mr Murphy had to move in with his brother, David in Newcastle West as he had no place to stay and no employment locally.

Following an investigation of his case by the US Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the gardaí, he was cleared earlier this week to go back to the US.

As he packed yesterday, Mr Murphy said: “It has been hell on earth due to the system here and the US. If I was a convicted criminal I would have found it easier to get back.”

Rachelle found out the sex of their baby from a recent scan.

Jimmy said: “She has not told me but said I’ll find out as soon as I walk into the house we just bought. She has already painted the baby’s room. If blue, it’s a boy — if pink, a girl.”

He praised US politicians Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Steve King for their help in getting the necessary clearance. He also thanked local Newcastle West county councillor Michael Collins and Senator Marc McSharry for their assistance.