Department contacts McBrearty over US entry
Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:59
Donegal publican Frank McBrearty Junior has said that he has been told by the Department of Foreign Affairs that if he represents himself at US immigration at Dublin Airport tomorrow, there should not be a problem with his travelling to the US.
He insists that he was denied entry to the US by immigration officials today because a charge of assault which he had been acquitted of had not been removed from his record.
Mr McBrearty, his wife Patricia, and three of their children were due to travel to Chicago for a holiday with two of Mr McBrearty's brothers, who are successful businessmen in the city.
However, he told RTÉ that he received a call from Department Officials this evening and that the department had been in contact with the US Embassy.
He said the airline had rescheduled his family's flights to Chicago tomorrow and they now hope to travel to the US for their planned holiday.
Earlier, Mr McBrearty said he had instructed his solicitor to issue legal proceedings against the Government following today's incident.
Meanwhile, the US embassy has issued a statement saying Mr McBrearty had not been denied entry and could re-apply anytime.
Mr McBrearty Jr recently settled his action against the State for ¤1.5m.
