Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0579Return order · Co. Dublin

Somali nationals awarded legal costs over State's failure to execute return orders

Two unrelated Somali nationals, a woman and a man, were issued return orders in April and May 2025 but the State failed to execute them within the required six-month validity period. Both obtained leave to challenge the orders in September 2025, and their proceedings were declared moot in November and December 2025 respectively. At the High Court in July 2026, Judge Anthony Barr ruled that the applicants should be awarded their legal costs, finding a unilateral failing of the State. The court was not told why the return orders were not executed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two unrelated Somali nationals, a woman and a man, were issued return orders by the State.
When
The woman was issued with a return order on 30 April 2025 and the man on 28 May 2025.
Where
The judicial review proceedings were heard at the High Court in Dublin.
Cause
The State failed to execute the return orders within the required six-month validity period, rendering the challenges moot.
Investigation
The woman obtained leave to challenge her order on 2 September 2025 and the man on 15 September 2025.
In court
  • The woman's proceedings were declared moot on 8 November 2025 and the man's on 5 December 2025.
  • Judge Anthony Barr ruled at the High Court that the applicants should be awarded their legal costs, finding a unilateral failing of the State.
Other details
  • The Chief State Solicitor offered to strike out the matter with no order as to costs.
  • The court was not told why the return orders were not executed.
  • The applicants were represented by Brian Burns of BKC solicitors.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe first applicant, a woman, was issued with a return order on 30 April 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe first applicant was granted leave by the High Court to challenge the order on 2 September 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe first applicant's proceedings were declared moot on 8 November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe male applicant was issued with a return order on 28 May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe male applicant obtained leave to challenge the order on 15 September 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe male applicant's return order challenge was declared moot on 5 December 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTwo Somali nationals were awarded their legal costs for judicial reviews against return orders. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Anthony Barr made the ruling at the High Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Chief State Solicitor offered to strike out the matter with no order as to costs. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court was not told why the return orders were not executed. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe State did not enact the return orders within the required six-month period. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe applicants were represented by Brian Burns of BKC solicitors. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Somali nationals entitled to legal costs over State’s inaction to remove them, High Court rules

    High Court ruling by Judge Anthony Barr awarding costs to two Somali applicants whose return orders were not executed by the State within the six-month validity period, with the judge finding a 'unilateral' failing of the State.

    victim, female, Somali, non-irishvictim, male, Somali, non-irish