A woman hugged her barrister yesterday in the High Court after a judge ruled that her partner should be let out of prison for Christmas pending deportation hearings in the new year.
Mr Justice Michael Hanna told Vladimir Shevchenko, a jailed Moldovan building worker now living in Cork, he could spend the holiday with his partner, German Birgit Weber Hobbs.
The judge was told by Paul Christopher, counsel for Mr Shevchenko, that his client had been arrested and imprisoned 10 days ago for allegedly having failed to keep deportation authorities informed of his whereabouts.
Mr Christopher said Mr Shevchenko (31) worked in the building trade in Cork and had been facing a deportation order, the validity of which was now under legal challenge.
Mr Christopher said there had been a breakdown in communications and correspondence between the Department of Justice and Mr Shevchenko's solicitors with regard to the legal challenge and his obligation to keep the department fully informed about his whereabouts.
Judge Hanna said Mr Shevchenko's judicial review of the deportation order was due to be heard in the High Court in January and he accepted there had been a breakdown in communication between both parties.
"There has been a degree of confusion between well-meaning people on both sides and I am directing the release of Mr Shevchenko subject to certain terms," Judge Hanna said.
"This is wonderful," said Mr Shevchenko's partner as she hugged Mr Christopher. "It's going to be a wonderfully happy Christmas for all of us."