A committee of cross-community representatives in Co Monaghan has collected 5,000 signatures on a petition urging Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to reverse a decision to deport a Nigerian woman and her three children.
The committee said it was renewing an appeal by elected representatives from all political parties for the Minister to allow Nkechi Okolie, her sons, Ike (16) and Chukka (6), and daughter, Chidinima (10), to return to Ireland.
The family had been living at the Knocktornagh private housing estate in Castleblayney for four years. They were deported with 35 other Nigerians to Lagos two weeks ago.
In a statement the committee, formed at a public meeting in Castleblayney last week, said there was widespread concern in the local community for the health and safety of the Okolie family.
Through telephone contact they had learned that the family was being housed "in one room within a compound on the outskirts of Lagos from which they cannot leave".
"As a single mother with three children, security is a big issue, and Mrs Okolie fears for the safety of her children, particularly as a six-year-old girl was raped last week in a neighbouring room," the committee said.
"Apart from the trauma that the children have endured because of the deportation, Chukka is currently experiencing health difficulties as a severe asthmatic, without ready access to medication or medical facilities."
It was appealing to the Minister for an urgent review of the case under several conditions applicable under the legislation which would enable him to change his mind on the case.