The grandmother of a five-year- old girl who cannot walk, talk or see has again been denied a visa to come to Ireland to meet her.
Mary Oyewole, who lives in Athy, Co Kildare, with her parents, Gbolahan and Margaret Oyewole, and her four siblings, was born in Ireland. Three of her siblings were also born here, and her parents have residency here. She has "gross delay in development, deafness and lower-limb spasticity", according to her doctor.
Mr Oyewole said yesterday he had applied for a visiting visa for his mother, Silisat Oyewole, "mostly to see Mary", but her visa had been refused three times".
His application for a three-month visiting visa for his mother is supported by Mary's consultant paediatrician, Dr Sylvia Dockeray, at the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf, Dublin.
In a submission to the Department of Justice in support of the visa application, Dr Dockeray said it would "seem unreasonable to deprive the children and the grandparents from contact. It is obviously more complicated for the family to travel abroad [ to Nigeria] in view of Mary's significant disability. She is significantly mentally handicapped with difficult behaviour and mannerisms which would make travelling with her very difficult."
The reason given for the refusal, Mr Oyewole said, was that there was doubt over whether his mother would return to Nigeria once her visa expired. "I and my wife both work. I am a nurse's auxiliary, and Margaret is a principal apprentice. We have our own house, and my mother has property and business in Nigeria. She is sad not to be able to come and see her grandchildren."
He said the Minister for Justice was failing to recognise Mary's need to meet her grandmother.
He had spoken to the department to ask what he should submit to prove his mother would return to Nigeria and last August provide details of her business and property interests in Nigeria. However, the application was again denied.
Mr Oyewole said it was wrong to suggest the family might use his daughter as a means of helping his mother to stay in the State illegally. "Why is the Minister punishing us?" he asked.
