Elaine Mcgee

A Northern Ireland man says he feels devastated after his Canadian husband was detained at Dublin Airport and returned to the US despite holding documentation they believed allowed travel while awaiting a UK visa appeal. The couple, who have lived in Northern Ireland for several years, argue that the Home Office guidance and legal advice indicated the certificate of application permitted travel. Irish authorities stated that only Irish and British citizens benefit from Common Travel Area arrangements and that other nationalities must meet UK immigration requirements. Local representatives are assisting the couple as they await further responses from the Home Office.

Irish immigration authorities denied entry to Canadian citizen Terry MacInally at Dublin Airport and returned him to the United States despite his EUSS certificate of application, leaving his husband, Mike Gallagher, distressed. The couple, who have lived in Northern Ireland for five years, argue that MacInally met travel requirements while awaiting an appeal on his UK visa status, though he previously overstayed a holiday visa. Gallagher is seeking help from local representatives as he awaits responses from the Home Office, while Irish officials maintain that non‑UK and non‑Irish citizens must meet full immigration requirements when entering through Dublin.