A young Irish woman married to a Nigerian asylum-seeker who was deported earlier this year has appealed to the Government to allow him to return to Ireland on compassionate grounds.
Mr Adewole Onasanwo (20), who suffers from schizophrenia, was deported on April 7th.
His wife, Ms Kathleen Onasanwo (19), from Falcarragh, Co Donegal, has just returned from visiting him in Nigeria where he is staying with relatives.
She has expressed fears for his health and safety and does not think he will survive until next December, when his case is up for judicial review.
"He is not able to get medical treatment for his condition out there. Medication is very expensive and he is not taking his tablets."
The couple had a stillborn baby last December. Mr Onasanwo was detained at Cloverhill Prison in March until he was deported in April.
"We haven't had time to mourn our baby properly," his wife said.
The couple met when Mr Onasanwo's family were placed in Letterkenny after they sought asylum in 1999.
They have been dating since the age of 16 and married in April last year.
Ms Rosanna Flynn of Residents Against Racism said that Kathleen's rights as a wife have been infringed.
"This young Irish woman is absolutely distraught. Her husband was taken away from her at a terrible time in her life."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said the Department does not comment on individual cases. However, she said that the simple fact that a person is married to an Irish woman would not prohibit him from being deported.