The socialist credentials of Taoiseach Bertie Aherne had to be called into serious question when his Government’s policy resulted in forcibly deporting a family into a proven situation of personal danger.

This was stated by Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin following a visit to Mountjoy prison to lend support to Nigerian mother Pamela Izbekhai who was arrested in Sligo on Friday last.

“What kind of Taoiseach could countenance the return of a family into a situation where their lives will be endangered as evidenced by the death of Pamela’s 19 month old baby following an enforced genital mutilation procedure”, she said.  It was evident that Pamela Izbekhai’s two young daughters would face similar danger if they and their mother were forced to return to Nigeria, Marian Harkin said.

“It is not just the judgement of the Minister for Justice that is in question here but the policy of a Government led by a Taoiseach who purports to have the kind of socialist principles which are completely at odds with this attempt to forcibly deport a family into a life threatening situation”, she said.

The Independent Sligo/Leitrim deputy called on the Taoiseach to have the deportation order lifted from a family whose safety was genuinely threatened if sent back to Nigeria.