The mother of a six-year-old autistic boy whose application for asylum has been refused has appealed to the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to allow her family to stay in Ireland so that he can receive treatment here.
A High Court challenge to the family's deportation has failed and they fear they may be forced to leave their home in Killarney on Friday.
Olivia Agbonlahor is from Nigeria. Three years ago she came to Ireland with her now six-year-old twins, Great and Melissa.
The family's application for asylum here was rejected and appeals to Mr McDowell and the High Court failed.
The decision to deport the Agbonlahors has now been affirmed, but Great has been diagnosed with autism and Olivia Agbonlahor is appealing to Mr McDowell to quash their deportation because, she says, Great will not get treatment if he is returned to Nigeria.
Campaigners for the Agbonlahor family are appealing for an exception to be made on humanitarian grounds. But time is not on the side of the Agbonlahor family.
Their legal team will return to the High Court tomorrow. But, if they fail there, Great Agbonlahor, his mother and sister have been ordered to present themselves for deportation to the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Dublin on Friday.
