Trafficked underage prostitute seeks child benefit

A woman who was forced into prostitution and sexual exploitation after being trafficked into Ireland at the age of 14 has brought a High Court challenge over a refusal to backdate child benefit payments for her daughter, who was born here and who has refugee status.

The woman had missed about two and a half years of child benefit after her daughter was born in 2010 because she was living in the “shadow economy”, subject of a deportation order, and distrusting of the State and its authorities, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan was told. The woman had felt unable to come forward due to her circumstances and past history, her counsel said.

With the help of Ruhama, the organisation that assists prostitutes and trafficked persons, the woman eventually did approach the authorities, her counsel said. That lead to her deportation order being revoked, but there was a delay in the woman being given leave to remain in Ireland under family reunification procedures, her daughter having earlier secured refugee status.