A DOOLIN man was threatened not to “rock the boat” by an official at the Department of Justice or his Thai born wife and daughter would be de- ported.
John Thompson, who has begun legal proceedings against the Taoi- seach, Bertie Ahern, at the European Court of Human Rights in Stras- bourg, was told by the official that his wife Junthira and six-year-old daughter Donna could be deported at any time.
Born in England, Thompson has been living in Doolin for the last 36 years and runs a successful construc- tion company. He has been engaged in a long running process with the Department of Justice, in an effort to secure an Irish visa for his wite.
He has taken the case against the Taoiseach on the grounds that his right to travel has been infringed as a result of the Department of Justice’s refusal to grant Junthira a visa.
All 166 elected members of Dail Eireann will receive letters from the Thompson family outlining their situation later this week.
“The letters explain our situation and have a copy of our marriage certificate, our bank accounts, every- thing in our lives. We have got anoth- er letter for the Minister for Justice, signed by all the parents in Donna’s class in Doolin. We are sending that letter to Bertie Ahern as well,” said Mr Thompson.
“We are going to take the Govern- ment to court in Strasbourg over this, it’s an infringement of my human rights — the right to travel. One guy
from the department said that tech- nically my wife was an illegal im- migrant and she could be thrown out at any minute. He warned us not to
‘rock the boat’.”
The Thompson family have been battling to gain an Irish visa for Junthira for more than a year and a
half, with both the Irish and British Department’s of Justice denying re- sponsibility for the situation.
“We have done everything we have been asked to do but we have been bounced around from one organisa- tion to another. Originally we were told by the Department of Justice that we would have the visa in March 19 last. We waited but there was no visa, continued Mr Thompson.
“I phoned the Department four or five times and I was finally told that we wouldn’t be getting a visa. They told us to contact the British Embas- sy. But of course the British Embassy said that we live in Ireland, so it’s a matter for the Irish authorities.
“Essentially what the Irish authori- ties are telling me is to shag off back to England after 36 years in Doolin. I have been send every which way and told contradicting information over and over again.
Junthira has not been allowed to visit her family since moving to Ire- land early in 2006.
“Treland is good. I love it. To live here is perfect for me, I really like it here in Doolin,” she said.
‘“T have been here 14 or 15 months now and I really like it. For me, I want to live here. But I need to be able to see my family. I miss my fam- ily in Thailand.”