Garda watchdog criticised over immigration bureau probe findings

AN English academic has criticised the Garda Ombudsman after its investigation into the alleged mistreatment of his partner by members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) three years ago found no wrong-doing.

Lee Woods, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Portsmouth University, spoke out after the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) had reviewed the case into the alleged mistreatment of Brazilian national Adriano Maluf at Dublin Airport.

Mr Woods and Mr Maluf allege that three years ago Mr Maluf – who had been studying at the English In Dublin School before moving to Britain – was accused of entering Ireland illegally, had his wallet taken from him and his passport stamped “refused entry” by GNIB members at Dublin Airport as he tried to catch his return flight to Brazil.

Mr Woods said Mr Maluf was “physically grabbed” and told he would be deported, despite the fact that in the days before re-entering Ireland to fly home the GNIB had already issued him with a letter stating he was free to enter Ireland.

Two days after the incident on September 5, 2006, Mr Maluf was told he would be allowed to fly home and the endorsement on his passport refusing entry was scribbled out and “removed without prejudice” added.

Following complaints made by Mr Woods, a GSOC investigation concluded last November the probe would be discontinued “in the absence of any independent evidence to support your allegations”.

However, the investigation was then reviewed. A meeting took place between the GSOC and the GNIB, after which the GSOC confirmed that it was standing by its original decision not to continue with the probe.

Mr Woods said he and Mr Maluf were “very unhappy” with the finding and believe various aspects of the probe are “not compatible”. “How could they suggest Adriano was entering illegally when we had written confirmation [from the GNIB] he was free to enter prior to his flight, had the endorsement removed and had a letter from the GNIB confirming that the endorsement was removed and that Adriano was free to enter Ireland again in the future?

“I hate to think how many others from developing countries have suffered equally appalling treatment at the hands of this officer or others at Dublin Airport.”

Mr Maluf, aged 36 and a solicitor from Curitiba in southern Brazil, originally flew from Dublin to Glasgow Prestwick en route to England in 2006, and did not get his passport stamped at that airport, a situation which Mr Woods believes may have contributed to the ensuing incident at Dublin Airport on his return.

In the original GSOC finding it was stated that the officer involved in the case denied any allegation of wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the GSOC said they would not be commenting on individual cases.