A Nigerian woman who spent five nights in jail for a crime she didn't commit is considering suing the State for false imprisonment.
Ms Modupe Arowoselu (27) went to a social welfare office in Cork on January 10th to make an inquiry about whether she was entitled to an allowance should she move to Ireland permanently. However, she ended up being arrested after the payments officer became suspicious of her documentation.
She appeared before Cork District Court on January 11th on three charges, including failing to produce a valid passport, possession of a cloned visa card and a fraud offence which was allegedly committed at the social welfare office.
Ms Arowoselu spent five nights in Limerick Prison before receiving bail in mid-January. By January 20th, all of the charges against her had been withdrawn.
The Nigerian woman has a British passport, having spent much of her life in the UK. She travelled to Ireland to spend time with her boyfriend. Due to her enforced incarceration, Ms Arowoselu missed a flight back to Britain. She has also lost her job as a care assistant in Manchester.
The Cork Centre for the Unemployed has publicly backed Ms Arowoselu, saying she was the victim of institutional racism.
Spokesman Mr John Holford said he was "ashamed to be Irish" having seen the treatment handed out to the woman.
"The poor woman was terrified when she was arrested. She was in a tiny cell when she did absolutely nothing wrong. She was presumed guilty. She is a gentle, quiet person who deserved better. Had she been white, with a recognisable British accent, she would not have been subjected to this oppressive treatment. She was in custody for a long time. It should have been sorted out sooner."
Ms Arowoselu returned to Britain two weeks later than she had expected. She consulted a local law firm, and is considering taking legal action over her detention and the loss of her job.