The incoming mayor of Tuam, Councillor Martin Ward, has backed the asylum appeal of a young Nigerian man who fears returning home could result in his death.
The man, who can only be referred to as Chukwudi, his first name, is from eastern Nigeria. After coming to live in Galway, he was befriended by Cllr Martin Ward, a settled Traveller, as well as other staff at the Brú Bhríde Travellers Resource Centre in Tuam.
He is anxiously awaiting a decision by the Department of Justice on his appeal of a decision not to give him refugee status in Ireland. Chukwudi says he fled to Ireland after one of his friends, who was also a worker in his salt-exporting firm, was murdered by Muslim extremists and the business was targeted. This resulted in him losing his livelihood and all his savings.
Cllr Martin Ward said he has helped Chukwudi because he believes that "this man is in real danger of death if he returns home."
Since he fled to Ireland, Chukwudi (31) has stayed in hostels for asylum-seekers here. In the meantime, he has studied computers. "This man is now trained in computers and he could be an ideal candidate to seek a job in this sector, possibly in Galway," said Cllr Ward.
Cllr Ward has lobbied some local TDs and they have raised the case with the office of the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
"I will continue to push this man's case with the politicians as I really feel that if he goes back home he will be killed", Cllr Ward said.