A Nigerian woman who fears her daughters may be subjected to female genital mutilation if they are sent home has presented herself at Balseskin Reception Centre in north Dublin for deportation.
Pamela Izevbekhai, who was arrested in Sligo more than two years ago for deportation after she came out of hiding to see her daughters, last week lost a lengthy legal battle to remain in Ireland and now faces deporatation from the State.
Ms Izevbekhai and her two daughters Naomi (7) and Jemima (5) were ordered to appear at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Burgh Quay in Dublin yesterday.
Ms Izevbekhai was given a letter telling her to appear at Balseskin this morning.
She has already lost a baby daughter as a result of female genital mutilation and argues that her other two daughters could suffer the same fate if they are back to Nigeria. She says she fled the country after a number of attempts were made to forcibly take them away from her to undergo the procedure.
Niamh Wilson, a spokeswoman for Ms Izevbekhai, told ireland.comthe Department of Justice today rejected her application for "subsidiary protection".
Ms Wilson said Ms Izevbekhai's solicitors are planning to seek a court injunction halting her deportation. They are arguing that Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, with whom the final decision rests, has not had the opportunity to properly consider the case as he has been in Boston for the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
It is understood Mr Lenihan is due back in Ireland tomorrow.
Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe and a number of groups, including the National Women's Council, Women's Aid and the ISPCC, yesterday called on Mr Lenihan to review the deportation order.
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