Boy (5) will be seen as 'voodoo' if he's deported to Nigeria, claims mother
Wednesday February 22 2006
O'Loughlin
GREAT Agbonlohar is only five years old, has attention deficit disorder and is facing deportation.
The hyper-active youngster has won the affection of the Cork community where he lives with his twin sister and Nigerian mother and is hoping a judge will give him a second chance for a better life here.
If deported back to Nigeria, Great would be ostracised because of his condition.
The High Court yesterday heard he would be seen as "voodoo" and the family would find it difficult to get accommodation.
In Ireland, he already has a place waiting for him in a local special school; if sent back to Nigeria, he would not get any special education or care.
Yesterday, Great's mother, Olivia Agbonlohar, went to the High Court seeking permission to legally challenge the deportation order made by Justice Minister Michael McDowell. She was supported by friends from Clonakilty, where thousands of signatures have been gathered in support of her and twins Great and Melissa.
Mr Justice Daniel Herbert will give his judgment in the case at a later stage, and the High Court was told the injunction preventing the family's deportation will stay in place until the judgment of the court.
It also heard that the principal officer of the Departmental Repatriation Unit, Noel Dowling, recommended last November that leave to remain in this country be refused.
In his report, Mr Dowling said solicitors for the family submitted that deporting the family "would condemn Great to a life of profound anti-social and disruptive behaviour", while his sister would be seen as having a voodoo sibling.
Mr Dowling's report said that in an ideal world everyone should have the same standard of care but it was not an ideal world.
A diagnostic report on the boy carried out by a clinical psychologist in October 2005 found Great did not come within the autistic spectrum disorder but did have intellectual disability and behavioural difficulties.
Ms Agbonlohar (36), whose twins Great and Melissa were born in Italy, arrived in Irleand in March 2003 and have settled in Clonakilty. Her husband , Martins is a prominent and controversial author.
Counsel for the family Cormac O'Dullachain, SC said article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights which enshrines to right to a private and family life comes in to play in the case.
Mr McDowell reviewed the particulars of the case last month and concluded he was satisfied the child was not autistic and made a deportation order.
