Fr Dan Nguyen of Bray's Holy Redeemer Church Parish communities in Bray have offered their support for a young boy and mother who are facing imminent deportation to China.
Parishioners in Co. Wicklow have said that nine-year-old Eric Zhi Ying Xue, who hit news headlines earlier this week, should not be deported to China.
Although Eric was born in Ireland he is not an Irish citizen, because of a rule implemented following the passing of a 2004 referendum which provided that children who were born in Ireland to foreign national parents would no longer have a constitutional right to Irish citizenship.
According to Fr Larry Behan, priest in Bray’s St Fergal’s church, parishioners have been “supportive” of the young boy and were positive about the fact he shouldn’t be deported.
Echoing these remarks, Fr Dan Nguyen of Bray’s Holy Redeemer Church told this paper he “feels sorry” that Eric may be deported and wondered if there were “any special circumstances” for him to stay in Ireland.
Around 30,000 people have signed an online petition organised by his school, St Cronan’s, to prevent the deportation.