An Indian family who donated over 2,000 homemade face masks to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic has been granted permission to remain in Ireland.
The Singh family, who live in the Kinsale Road accommodation centre in Cork, received confirmation from the Department of Justice that they can remain here after a deportation order was revoked.
Raminder Singh, who came from India with his family four years ago, say that making the masks was about “giving back” to a country they arrived in.
Raminder Singh said that he, his wife Harinder Kaur, and their three adult children Sandeep, 23; Gursewak, 21; and Gurcharan, 19; are delighted and “so happy” with the news of being granted residency.
The family was refused the right to live in Ireland in January 2020, and they were informed that they would be deported back to India.
The Singh family lodged an appeal against their deportation. They sought to remain on religious and political grounds, while an online petition campaigning against their deportation received more than 3,500 signatures.
On June 15, the family received news that their appeal was successful.
Mr. Singh said he is grateful to the Irish Government and the people of Ireland for granting them asylum.
“I am very happy. We want to thank everybody who supported us,” he said.
He said the core belief of the Sikh religion is engaging in Seva. This is a service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it.
“We are very happy in Ireland. We like this country and Irish people. Irish people are very supportive. My Sikh religion is that if you can help, you help,” Mr. Singh said.
Mr. Singh‘s daughter Sandeep completed three years of beautician training during her time in Ireland and plans to open a salon in Cork City, while his son Gurcharan plays cricket with the Cork county cricket team and hopes to play for Ireland in the future. Gursewak, meanwhile, has been a member of the Citadel, a world music band based in Kinsale.
Roos Demol, CEO of Recruit Refugee Ireland (RRI), said that the granting of residency to the family is “the best news in a long time”.