THREE Belgian nationals claimed in the High Court yesterday that EU citizens should not have to show their passports when travelling within the European Union.
The three, who arrived at Dublin Airport from Brussels on Friday, were refused leave to stay because they declined to show their EU passports, Mr Justice Kelly heard. They were coming to the Republic to organise a conference on the free movement of persons within the EU.
Mr Bill Shipsey SC, for the three, said his clients did have passports, and the case was being taken on a point of principle by Mr Thomas Omores, of Paris; Mr Muharrem Karaman, who has an address at Charleroi, Belgium; and Mr Kayahan Uygur, a lawyer, of Corbais, Belgium. The proceedings are against the Minister for Justice and the State.
The three were given leave to seek an order by way of judicial review quashing a decision of the immigration authorities at Dublin Airport refusing them leave to stay in the Republic on grounds that they failed to display their passports or identity cards as evidence of their nationality or identity. _
Dublin solicitor, Mr Philip Lee, in an affidavit, said his clients, who were Belgian nationals arrived at Dublin Airport from Brussels. They were requested by an immigration officer to produce their passports. They declined to do so, explaining that as EU citizens they should not be required to produce their passports when travelling within the EU.
The immigration officer informed them he was under a duty to establish the identity and nationality of each person entering Ireland.
Mr Lee said the applicants were then informed they were being refused leave to land. They said they had booked accommodation at a Dublin hotel and intended to attend a meeting in Dublin that evening for the purpose of organising a conference.
Immigration officers informed Mr Lee the three would be detained in Dublin overnight and sent to Brussels on Saturday morning. They were placed on a flight at noon on Saturday.
Mr Lee said he was instructed by the three to challenge the decision on grounds that it infringed the right of EU nationals to exercise their rights of free movement.