The High Court has reserved judgment on a challenge by a Nigerian woman to orders for the deportation of herself and her four-year-old non-Irish born daughter.
The woman is also the mother of an Irish-born baby boy who cannot be deported as he is an Irish citizen.
Deportation orders were made in August 2002 by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of Ms Bola Funmi Ojo and her daughter, Toke Ojo.
Ms Ojo's application is the first challenge to a deportation order involving the mother of an Irish-born child since the Supreme Court decided last January that the non-national parents of Irish-born children are not entitled to remain here on grounds that they have Irish-born children.
The hearing had opened last week before Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan and concluded with the decision reserved.
Ms Ojo had lived at Mosney, Co Meath, but later went to reside with a friend in Waterford where she was arrested. Lawyers for the Minister argued that a notice of September 6th, 2002 had informed her she must remain in Mosney and present herself at Drogheda Garda Station in September 2002.
Ms Ojo claims her application for residency for herself and her daughter post-dated the deportation orders in that they were made following the birth of her son on December 15th last. She is on bail pending the outcome of the proceedings.