The State informed the High Court yesterday that it had consented to the release of a Russian woman and her eight-year-old daughter who were detained by immigration officers at Dublin Airport last week.
Ms Julia Popova and her daughter, Tanya, had a visa when they arrived at the airport on Friday afternoon. Ms Pop ova's solicitor, Mr Con Pendred, told Ms Justice Carroll last Friday that he had been told by an immigration officer that the visa might be fraudulent and that many such visas were issued fraudulently.
At that hearing, Mr John Deegan, for the mother and daughter, said that Mr Pendred was a solicitor acting for Mr Michael Gelosov, a Russian national seeking asylum in the State, who claimed that the woman and girl were his wife and daughter. He said the two had arrived in Dublin from London on a week's visit for a holiday, to learn better English, and had a visa for that purpose.
Ms Justice Carroll ordered that an inquiry be held into the legality of the detention and adjourned the matter until yesterday. When the matter came before the court yesterday, Mr Conleth Bradley, for the State, said the woman and girl had been freed and the inquiry was not necessary. The State had consented to an order for their release.