A man from Northern Ireland says he is 'broken and hopeless' after his husband was detained at Dublin Airport and sent back to the US by Irish immigration authorities. The couple, who have been living in Northern Ireland for five years, maintain the husband had the correct documentation.
The incident highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of immigration processes, particularly for couples with mixed nationalities and differing visa statuses, causing significant distress and separation.
Mike Gallagher, a UK citizen, has expressed devastation after his husband, Terry MacInally, a Canadian citizen, was detained at Dublin Airport and reportedly sent back to the United States. The couple, who have been married for six years and living in Northern Ireland for five, claim MacInally possessed the necessary documentation for travel while his UK visa application is processed.
MacInally, who is 63 and retired, had been visiting family in Boston and was due to return to Ireland. Gallagher stated he became frantic when he could not contact his husband and was later informed MacInally had been put on a flight back to the US, with his phone and passport confiscated.
The couple acknowledges MacInally overstayed his initial holiday visa by six months but believed he could remain in the UK while his visa application, including an appeal under the EU settlement scheme, was pending. Gallagher stated they were advised that his Certificate of Application (CoA) permitted travel.
The Republic of Ireland's Department of Justice clarified that Common Travel Arrangements apply only to Irish and British citizens, and other nationalities must meet the immigration requirements of each jurisdiction. They added that refused passengers are typically returned on the next available flight. The Home Office has been contacted for a response.
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