The High Court has reserved judgment on an application by a Nigerian woman for leave to bring a legal challenge to prevent the deportation of herself and her two children.
One of the children has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Mr Justice Daniel Herbert heard the application for leave today and reserved his decision. He was told that an injunction preventing the family's deportation will stay in place until the judgment of the court.
Olivia Agbonlohar (36), with an address in Clonakilty, Co Cork, claims deportation to Nigerian will adversely affect her five year old son, Great, who has ADHD. She claims the boy would be treated as an outcast in Nigeria because of his condition and also claims the appropriate facilities for his condition are not available there.
However, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell reviewed the Agbonlohar case last month, stated he was satisfied the child was not autistic and made a deportation order, the court heard.
Ms Agbonlohar, whose twins Great and Melissa were born in Italy, arrived in Irleand in March 2003 and have settled in Clonakilty, Co Cork.
Thousands of signatures have been gathered in support of the family and several people demonstrated in support of the family outside the Four Courts yesterday. Her husband, Martins, is a prominent and controversial author and an outspoken critic of criminality amongst the Nigerian community, it was stated in court documents.
Opposing the application for leave, Mr Mark de Blacam SC, for the State, said Ms Agbonlohar's case had already had four distinct hearings with four decisions, including from the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, and had been refused refugee status. She had established no substantial grounds to justify the granting of leave to bring a judicial review challenge.