The family of a six-year-old autistic boy who faces deportation to Nigeria in 13 days' time has written to the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, appealing for a meeting to urge him to overturn the order against them.
A number of support groups are also making appeals to the Minister to revisit the decision of his predecessor Michael McDowell to deport the family of Great Agbonlahor, his twin sister Melissa and their mother Olivia.
Ms Agbonlahor came to Ireland three years ago with her children and applied for asylum. While here Great was diagnosed with autism and has been receiving limited treatment and support in Tralee where the family settled.
The Irish Society for Autism said it had written to Mr McDowell twice asking that he allow the Agbonlahor family to stay in the State. A spokeswoman said the society would now be contacting Mr Lenihan asking him to rescind the order.
Nora Gibbons, director of advocacy with Barnardos, said the Agbonlahor case was not "personally known" to Barnardos but she also called on the Minister to "use his discretion to keep this family in the State".
MEP Kathy Sinnott also called for the deportation order to be revoked so that Great would not be "bullied or beaten for being autistic".
A Department of Justice spokeswoman said yesterday it had received correspondence from Ms Agbonlahor's solicitor, Kevin Brophy.
"As the decision by the Minister's predecessor to issue deportation orders in respect of Olivia, Great and Melissa Agbonlahor has been upheld following several reviews, including judicial proceedings, the Minister sees no basis for revoking the deportation orders," she said.
