Posted by Chris Fingleton on
A six-year-old Athy girl who cannot see, walk or hear is being denied a visit from her grandmother in Nigeria because the Department of Justice will not grant her a visiting visa to travel to Ireland.
A six-year-old Athy girl who cannot see, walk or hear is being denied a visit from her grandmother in Nigeria because the Department of Justice will not grant her a visiting visa to travel to Ireland.
Mary Oyewole lives with her parents, Gbolahan (36) and Margaret (35), in Athy and has multiple disabilities, including gross delay in development, deafness and lower-limb spasticity. The family, along with their four other children, have been residents in Ireland for the past seven years. The family moved to their home in The Holland's, Athy, three years ago. The children have never seen their grandmother, Silifat Apinke (70), who lives in Nigeria where she owns property and runs her own business.
Mr Oyewole said the reason he applied to the Department of Justice for a three-month visiting visa for his mother was so that she could see Mary. But despite giving an undertaking that his mother would return to her native country, Mr Oyewole claims his application has been turned down on the grounds that he cannot prove to the department that she will return to Nigeria. This is despite providing the department with details of his moth-er's property and business interests in Nigeria.
'I have done everything I possibly can. If anyone can help bring my mum here, I would be very grateful," Mr Oyewole said.
Both Mr Oyewole and his wife are in full-time employment and say they are working to make a better life for their family. 'We are asking for nothing, just that my mother can come and see her grandchildren," Mr Oyewole said.
Mr Oyewole's application is being supported by Mary's consultant paediatrician Dr Sylvia Dockeray. In a written submission to the Department of Justice, Dr Dockeray states: 'It would seem unreasonable to deprive the children and the grandparents from contact. It is obviously more complicated for the family to travel abroad."
Asked what it would mean to him to see his mother walk through his front door, Mr Oyewole said: 'It would be great. It would mean everything to me and my children."
Kildare south TD Jack Wall said he is aware of similar cases where the department has reversed its decision. 'Hopefully it will happen in this case," deputy Wall said.
When contacted by the Kil-dare Nationalist, the Department of Justice said it did not comment on individual cases.