Man refused passport but office cashed cheque

A LIMERICK bachelor, who describes himself as a recluse, is a prisoner in his own country due to a passport refusal.

Gerard McCarthy, aged 52, of Cullen, said he only leaves his home for two hours a week to do hi shopping.

He said: “I have lived the life of a recluse since I gave up drink over two years ago. I am not an alcoholic as I gave it up like that. I decided to give myself a treat and visit relatives in New York now that I have the money.

“But I now find myself a prisoner in my own country as I can’t get a passport.”

Mr McCarthy insists that all his paperwork was in order in the application he sent last month to the passport office in Molesworth Street, Dublin.

The passport office, he said cashed a €75 cheque he sent with his application.

He said the passport office had informed him that his application was incomplete as it did not contain his birth certificate.

“I did include my birth cert with the application which included photographs I got stamped at Tipperary garda station.”

Mr McCarthy, who lives on the Limerick/ Tipperary border, is refusing to reapply and send in another cheque.

He said: “They told me my first cheque would be refunded but it would take some time. I asked why they cashed my cheque if they claim my application was not in order and they said it was policy.”

Mr McCarthy said he will not resubmit a new application as he is satisfied his first one was in order.