The High Court has reserved judgment on a challenge by a native of Pakistan to a decision withdrawing his Irish citizenship. The proceedings were taken by Mr Sohail Akram, now living in Denmark, who in 1984 married two women within four months, an Irish woman and then his first cousin. The State contends his marriage to the Irish woman was for immigration purposes.
The court was told Mr Akram married Ms Kathleen Kelly, of Loughrea, Co Galway, in July 1984 and four months later returned to Pakistan where, he claimed, he came under severe pressure to marry his cousin.
In 1993 he applied to the Irish Embassy in Copenhagen for Irish citizenship for his son by his second marriage. He lodged the two marriage certificates with the embassy, which did not process his application and retained his Irish passport.
The State has claimed Mr Akram made a fraudulent declaration when applying for an Irish passport in 1987 because he did not inform them of the second marriage. The two-day hearing concluded yesterday.