The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has received large amounts of hate mail since he spoke out in support of a deported Nigerian student.
Dr Martin has in the past week received a number of letters strongly supporting deportation, his spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.
She said Dr Martin was "surprised" by the reaction to his intervention in the case of Olukunle Elukanlo, whose deportation was reversed last week.
The Irish Times understands Dr Martin has received between 10 and 20 letters a day on the subject, virtually all opposed to his stance and many expressed in "extremely intolerant" language.
"He's been quite shaken by it. After all, it wasn't the Ireland he knew when he went to work in Rome many years ago," said one source.
Mr Elukanlo, a 20-year-old Leaving Certificate student at Palmerstown Community School, was deported along with 34 other Nigerians in mid-March.
Speaking before Easter, Dr Martin said it was "hard to understand" why the deportation of Mr Elukanlo could not have been postponed "for a few weeks" until he had completed his exams.
"At the very least, returning home with a certificate in his pocket would have been a boost to an intelligent young man and would have given him something of a better start in his own country."
He appealed to the authorities "to use to the full the discretionary powers they possess".
The following day, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell reversed his earlier stance, admitted he was wrong and revoked the deportation.
Mr Elukanlo returned to school yesterday for the first time since his return.
He was given another rousing welcome by his classmates as he turned up for classes in Palmerstown yesterday morning. Later in the day, he also returned to work at the local SuperValu.
According to friends, he has decided not to press for an immediate meeting with Mr McDowell.
"He just wants some normality to return and for the fuss to die down for now," said classmate Neil Burke.
"But he still intends to look for a meeting at some stage."
Mr McDowell has indicated that if Mr Elukanlo wishes to meet him, he must first make a written request for a meeting through the Minister's private secretary before it will be considered.
