Woman who fled Saudi Arabia takes action over welfare pay

An Irishwoman who fled Saudi Arabia with two of her children after her husband married a second wife has brought High Court proceedings challenging a determination by the minister for social protection that she is not entitled to social welfare payments.

Rosaleen Smith sought housing and supplementary welfare allowance after she arrived in Ireland late last month. However, she said her application was rejected after an official at a social welfare office in Dublin told her she was not habitually resident in the State.

Her lawyers claim her main centre of interest has been transferred to Ireland, and she is in fact and in law habitually resident here, and is entitled to the payments sought.