Gazan student with Trinity scholarship takes justice minister to High Court over visa refusal

Phoenix Law is representing Hafez Alrayyes, a 20-year-old who was awarded a fully funded scholarship to study engineering in Trinity College Dublin.

A GAZAN STUDENT is applying for judicial review against justice minister Jim O’Callaghan after he was denied a visa to study in Ireland.

Phoenix Law, instructing Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh and Eamonn Dornan, appeared before the High Court today on behalf of Hafez Alrayyes, a 20-year-old who was awarded a fully funded scholarship to study engineering in Trinity College Dublin whose Irish student visa was refused.

Phoenix Law said the state sought further time to respond to the proceedings.

It said the court directed that the application for leave to bring judicial review proceedings and the substantive proceedings be dealt with together.

It said the matter will return before the court on Monday 28 September, and the case will be reviewed on Tuesday 29 September and then listed for hearing.

The Department of Justice said: “The Department does not comment on individual cases. Furthermore, as judicial review proceedings are ongoing, the matter is currently sub judice.”