A Bulgarian couple who wish to remain here to be near the grave of one of their two Irish-born children no longer face deportation.
Andon Kozhukarov and his partner, Bilyana Spasova, had brought a High Court challenge after deportation orders were served on them last year but their court action has now been settled. It is understood the Minister for Justice has agreed the couple may stay and work here.
Last Christmas Mr Justice Frank Clarke ruled the couple could seek a judicial review of the decision of December 8th, 2004, by the Minister for Justice to deport them. He noted there were unusual circumstances involved.
The couple lost their first Irish-born baby when he was only four months old, and had said they wished to stay in this country to visit his grave at Glasnevin Cemetery. They said they visited the child's grave each Sunday, according to Bulgarian tradition, and that was "all we want and what is important to us".
In their High Court action the couple argued there was interference with their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights to respect for private and family life.
The couple have lived here since they left Bulgaria in 2002. The family had claimed that in making the deportation order against the parents the Minister failed to consider the tragic and unique circumstances of the case.
Mr Kozhukarov and his partner applied for asylum here based on fear of persecution on the grounds of their ethnic identity as Romas. They claimed Mr Kozhukarov was beaten and Ms Spasova was raped by policemen in the Bulgarian town where they lived and that their home was set alight. Their application for asylum was unsuccessful.