Cogent reasons not provided for rejecting documentation submitted by Ethiopian applicant for refugee status

Judicial review – telescoped hearing – Ethiopian national challenging the decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal to refuse her refugee status – she is of Oromo ethnicity and states that she has been a member of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) - home was attacked by state forces – she, her husband and her children were detained – has not seen her husband since - subjected to ill-treatment whilst detained - fled to Kenya - returned to Ethiopia without her children - arrested and detained again - freed by a friend of her uncle on condition that she leave for Sudan immediately - remained in Khartoum for three months and from there she fled to Ireland – adverse credibility findings – argued that the tribunal erred in failing to have reasonable regard for documents in support of her claim - burden of proof rests on the applicant – tribunal argued that the documents submitted could not be accorded any probative value – she argued that the tribunal erred in law and acted in breach of fair procedures in the manner in which adverse credibility findings were reached – argued that the tribunal failed to consider the SPIRASI report – value of SPIRASI reports – argued that the tribunal erred in failing to consider and assess whether the applicant had a well-founded fear of persecution for a Convention reason and whether there was a real chance of persecution if the applicant were refouled to Ethiopia, particularly because of her Oromo ethnicity – tribunal argued that this ground was not pleaded – argued that findings regarding demeanour require special care and attention that was not provided by the tribunal – submitted documents in relation to her membership of OLF – Istanbul Protocol.