Dept accused of harbouring anti-immigrant culture

The solicitor for a Nigerian family facing deportation next month is accusing the Department of Justice of harbouring an anti-immigrant culture.

Kevin Brophy says he was horrified by a letter from the department yesterday which stated that it is not normal practice to allow people time to be inoculated against disease before deportation.

The letter granted a four-week delay on the deportation of Olivia Agbonlahor and her six-year-old twins so that they could be vaccinated.

Mr Brophy says the official policy of refusing to allow deportees to get vaccinations highlights the anti-immigrant and particularly anti-Nigerian attitude of the department.

He also says its bodes ill for efforts to get the Government to allow the Agbonlahors to stay in Ireland.