The applicant, a Russian national, left Moldova and travelled to the UK on a six-month visa. After landing in the UK she travelled immediately to Ireland where she claimed asylum. The Department of Justice argued that she should be deported to the UK unless she left Ireland voluntarily.
The High Court found that the State is entitled to return a person who intends to apply for asylum in Ireland to the first safe country they resided in after fleeing their home provided that the “safe country” is willing and able to hear the person’s asylum application. The Supreme Court upheld this finding on appeal.
