Irish woman is charged with immigration offences in UK

An Irish receptionist accused of involvement in an alleged bogus marriages racket aimed at subverting the UK's immigration rules…

An Irish receptionist accused of involvement in an alleged bogus marriages racket aimed at subverting the UK's immigration rules has been charged with conspiracy by London police and bailed to appear at Horseferry Road Court in Westminster on December 11th. Ms Tara Clancy (24), of Beech Grove, Lucan, Co Dublin, is charged with conspiring with Mr Frank Buggles, Ms Susantha Mahes Moonesinghe, Mr Thomas Nalty, Ms Theresa O'Callaghan and others to make false statements relating to applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom on behalf of non-EU residents.

The charge goes on to allege that Ms Clancy submitted or caused to be submitted applications and supporting documents to the Home Office for leave to remain in the UK on behalf of such nationals, which contained false information relating to the marital status of the individuals concerned - namely, that the marriages "were not marriages of convenience". It is also alleged that she attempted to induce Home Office officials to accept the fraudulent applications as genuine in order to get them to grant the applicants leave to remain in the UK on the basis of their marriage to EU residents there.

A second charge alleges that, between the same dates, she conspired with the same individuals and others to make or sign false declarations, notices or certificates relating to marriage, and/or made statements relating to marriage in registers of marriage kept by superintendent registrars of marriage, "for the purpose of procuring marriages".