Ireland Case No. 9533Failure to produce a passport on demand (Immigration Act) · Co. Donegal · 1 Apr 2026
Chinese national found working in Donegal takeaway without valid passport convicted under Probation Act
Xi Xing, a 35-year-old Chinese man, was found working at The Happy House takeaway in Castlefin, Donegal, without a valid passport, in an incident dated 1 April 2026. He was charged under section 12(1) of the Immigration Act, 2004, as amended, for failing to produce a passport or other identification on demand by a Garda immigration officer. On 18 May 2026 at Letterkenny District Court, he was convicted, the case was marked as proven, and he was given the benefit of the Probation Act as a first offence. The latest development is that court outcome, reported by DonegalLive on the same day.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 May
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 35-year-old Chinese man was found working in a takeaway in Donegal without a valid passport.
- Where
- The incident took place at The Happy House, The Diamond, Castlefin, Donegal.
- When
- The offence is dated 1 April 2026.
- Investigation
- A Garda immigration officer demanded production of a passport or other identification documents.
- The man did not produce documents and admitted to gardaí that he did not have them.
- Charges
- He was charged under section 12(1) of the Immigration Act, 2004, as amended by the Employment Permits Act, 2006, for failure to produce a passport on demand.
- In court
- He appeared before Letterkenny District Court, where the judge convicted him and marked the case as proven.
- Sentence
- The judge applied the Probation Act because it was his first offence.
- Other details
- The court heard the maximum penalty for the offence is a €3,000 fine or 12 months' imprisonment.
- The man's solicitor said he had worked at the takeaway for about three weeks after living in Northern Ireland for 10 years.
- The solicitor said the man came to Donegal to use the EU system because he felt it would make it easier to obtain a new passport.
- The solicitor said the man was not working because of a work-related incident.
- The man is named as Xi Xing in the key facts and article text, and as Xi Xang in a photo caption.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe man was found working in a takeaway in Donegal without a valid passport. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at The Happy House. (donegallive.ie)
- whenHe was charged with an offence from April 1, 2026. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA Garda immigration officer demanded production of a passport or other identification documents. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe man did not produce documents and admitted to gardaí that he did not have them. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe was charged under section 12(1) of the Immigration Act, 2004, as amended by the Employment Permits Act, 2006. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge convicted him, marked the case as proven and applied the Probation Act because it was his first offence. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe man's solicitor said he had worked at the takeaway for about three weeks after living in Northern Ireland for 10 years. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe solicitor said the man came to Donegal to use the EU system to obtain a new passport more easily. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe solicitor said the man was not working because of a work-related incident. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe court heard the maximum penalty for the offence is a €3,000 fine or 12 months' imprisonment. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2026Man found working in Donegal takeaway without valid passport appears in court
First report of the Letterkenny District Court appearance, including the conviction, the Probation Act decision, and the solicitor's account of the circumstances.
convicted, Xi Xing, 35, male, Chinese, named, non-irishXi Xing