MP pays bond for release of Irish child

A one-year-old Irish child was released from a Scottish detention centre yesterday after a Scottish MP posted a £100 bond.

Interest groups said the Irish Government had been "highly embarrassed" by its inaction in the case and the subsequent intervention of the Scottish MP.

The child, Percile-Liz Ikolo, was detained with her Cameroon-born mother, Ms Mercy Ikolo, at the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre, Strathaven, south Lanarkshire, on August 17th.

The pair were detained while trying to return to Ireland from Scotland, where they were visiting friends. Ms Ikolo is seeking asylum in Ireland. Her child was born in Dublin 14 months ago. Ms Ikolo has been living in Dublin for two years.

The Ikolo's were released yesterday after Scottish Socialist MSP Ms Rosie Kane posted a £100 bond and the UK Home Office said it had no objection to the release.

The Ikolo's will now live with Ms Kane and her two daughters at the MP's two bedroom flat in Govanhill, Glasgow. The case will come before a Scottish court on November 4th.

Ms Ikolo last night told The Irish Times she does not want to stay in Scotland. "We only came here for a holiday. I'm looking forward to getting back to Dublin, it's great to be out."

Her lawyer Mr Aamer Anwar said he was "shocked and astonished the Irish Government washed its hands of a case where an Irish baby was detained behind barbed wire."

Mr Ray Dooley, chief executive of the Childrens' Rights Alliance said the Irish Government had "an obligation to intervene".

Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, last night expressed his "grave concern" over reports that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may be on hunger strike. The Nobel peace laureate is being illegally detained in Burma by the Burmese authorities.