A man from Guinea, Africa, who says he fled to Ireland after escaping from prison where be was serving a life sentence for spying on the head of his country, has taken a High Court challenge to a decision refusing him refugee status. Mr Justice Kelly will give judgment today.
Mr Sekou Camara (34), of St Vincent's View, Mardyke, Cork, says he was refused refugee status by the Minister for Justice on May 27th, 1999, two years after arriving. His application to stay in Ireland has been rejected by a Department of Justice official, the Refugee Appeals Authority and the Minister.
In turning down his application, the Appeals Authority ruled that Mr Camara had not established a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion. This was upheld by the Minister.
Yesterday Mr John Rogers SC, for Mr Camara, said his client was a member of the Guinean People's Rally, the official opposition party to the government. When troops at the President's residence discovered his RPG membership he was arrested, tortured and beaten.
Mr Diarmaid McGuinness SC, for the Minister and Refugee Appeals Authority, denied that the Minister's decision refusing refugee status was ultra vires, unreasonable or irrational.
