Promising Rovers star ordered for deportation
Promising Rovers star ordered for deportation
Sunday July 17th 2005
CHARLIE MALLON
EXCLUSIVE
SHAMROCK ROVERS football club, backed by a Fianna Fail TD, has launched a campaign to stop the deportation to Nigeria of one of its most promising footballers, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Just days after putting together a rescue package for the struggling club, supporters, backed by the players and manager Roddy Collins, are trying to stop Justice Minister Michael McDowell sending midfielder Bernard Daniel back to Nigeria.
The 19-year-old, who played in Rovers' 2-0 defeat by Derry City in the Eircom League on Friday night, had recently finished his Leaving Certificate and had been promised "guaranteed employment" at Rovers.
But the player, known as Benny, has been told to report to the Garda Immigration Bureau on Wednesday.
The deportation decision has angered not only Rovers, but also college authorities, a church pastor, youth organisations and local Fianna Fail TD Charlie O'Connor.
Yesterday Benny was again on the football pitch, playing for Rovers reserves in Bray, and afterwards he told the Sunday Independent that he wished to stay here.
The player said he sought asylum in Ireland after being persecuted in his home country. He said: "I came here because of religious persecution by Muslim extremists in the north of my country. I got out with a fellow called JP who brought me here through France.
"I did not know what the process was and I did not know I was coming here. Now I really don't know what to do. I'm just counting on Mr O'Connor and the other people to help me.
"But I will have to turn up on Wednesday - and I don't know if I will be sent back then or later."
The teenager arrived in Ireland on November 3, 2003, and claimed asylum two days later. Rovers manager Mr Collins has given Benny his full backing in the player's fight to stay in his adopted homeland.
"He played schoolboy here at first and we processed his application and paperwork," Mr Collins said.
"I spotted his potential and played him a few times last year and he has been on the first team or reserves this season.
"He's a great kid. He has just finished his Leaving Cert and he has integrated well with everybody. We call him 'Paddy' because he is one of us and we thought he would get citizenship.
"He is guaranteed employment here. But he rang me in tears on Friday morning and said he was to be deported in five days."
The Rovers boss asked Benny if he wanted to be excused from the team that played Derry City last Friday night, but he wanted to play.
However, the manager decided that in the circumstances, Benny should be on the bench and brought him on for only the closing minutes of the team's 2-0 defeat.
Charlie O'Connor, Fianna Fail TD for Tallaght, said: "The Minister has made an order for his deportation and he is to report on Wednesday to the garda authorities.
"But I would make a special appeal to the Minister to allow him to remain here.
"I met the young lad last night with Roddy Collins and I can say this is a genuine case, a special case. Here is a young lad trying to make a new life for himself.
"I have had lots of calls supporting him and I have made representations to Minister McDowell through his private secretary and I hope to get some word back on Monday."
Mr O'Connor added that those who had given written support for Benny's bid to stay included the entire Shamrock Rovers team, including captain Trevor Molloy, the manager, the youth development officer, Dundrum College, Foroige, Pastor John Ofasan of a local Gospel Mission and the Staircase Hostel where he used to live.
© Irish Independent
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