A Kerry man had his hopes of getting to know his new American girlfriend dashed when she was turned back by immigration police at Shannon airport with $68 in her pocket.
Mr Jim McGrath, from Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry, had established contact with Ms Wilma Allen from Missouri on the internet and had hoped to begin a courtship when she arrived on Monday. However, she had to use her return ticket to New York because immigration police believed she had not enough money to support herself. A Garda spokeswoman said yesterday she could not comment on individual cases.
Mr McGrath said he had been willing to support Ms Allen, who had a return ticket valid for up to three months. A local TD, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, intervened to allow him to see Ms Allen at Shannon Garda station and at the airport for a total of two hours.
He added he "was nearly ashamed to be Irish".