Palestinian student's Irish visa refusal challenged in High Court
Lawyers for a student offered a funded engineering place at University College Cork say her visa refusal was unlawful. The State opposes the challenge, which could affect other cases.
Shaymaa Abdualu, a Palestinian student in Gaza offered a fully funded engineering place at University College Cork, challenged the refusal of her Irish study visa in the High Court on Tuesday, 20 October. Her lawyers argued that the decision was unlawful and could affect other Palestinian students pursuing similar cases, RTÉ News and The Irish Times reported.
The 20-year-old's barrister, Sarah Jane Hillery, argued that the refusal was unreasonable, irrational and in breach of fair procedures. The State is opposing the judicial review. Mr Justice Anthony Barr has not ruled on the challenge.
Why the student is challenging the visa requirements
Hillery told the court that the student had provided a letter confirming her UCC place, proof that her tuition fee had been waived and evidence that she could access money during her studies. She argued that requiring bank statements set an impossible standard for Palestinian applicants amid the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, according to The Irish Times.
RTÉ reported that her lawyers also disputed a stated reason for refusal: that she had failed to submit a completed financial summary form. Hillery said the form had been submitted. The lawyers argued that some refusal reasons were generic, including doubts that applicants would return home after their studies.
The lawyers said a visa appeal would not be decided until September 2027. By then, they argued, it would be too late for Abdualu to take up the UCC course, which RTÉ said began in September 2026.
Other visa cases and the next hearing
The Irish Times said the outcome could affect 38 similar lawsuits brought by Palestinians refused student visas. RTÉ described lawyers acting for dozens of Gaza students seeking judicial review. Abdualu's lawyer said they hoped her case would clarify issues for the others, RTÉ reported.
Four other Palestinian students settled legal actions earlier in October after Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan agreed to speed up appeals against their visa refusals, according to The Irish Times. Three later received visas and the fourth lost an appeal. No comparable agreement had been reached in Abdualu's case at Tuesday's hearing.
Lawyers for the minister are due to address the court on Wednesday, 21 October. Barr said he hoped to decide the case the following week, RTÉ reported.
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Sources and context
- Palestinian student’s visa refusal was unlawful, court toldThe Irish Times
- Visa refusal for Gazan student irrational, court toldRTÉ News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.