Tribunal’s adverse credibility findings were irrational and perverse

Asylum and immigration – judicial review – challenge to the decision of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal refusing Georgian national refugee status - worked as a journalist - attracted the adverse attention of the Georgian authorities - been badly beaten by government agents - left her home country and travelled to Italy where she purchased a false Lithuanian passport – came to Ireland - remained in the State without seeking to regularise her status for a period of nearly seven years – applied for asylum – mix up in correspondence – did not attend for interview – application deemed abandoned – applied to re-enter the asylum process - new application form was required under s. 22 of the International Protection Act 2015 – application granted - attended for interview – application for international protection and leave to remain refused - no credit whatsoever is given to the applicant for having freely and voluntarily come forward – appeal refused - procedural history – grounds of challenge – adverse credibility findings in relation to the newspaper where she worked are irrational and unreasonable - identity card – irrational test applied to assessing weight of identity card – card not easily falsifiable - adverse credibility findings are irrational and perverse, the rejection of the identity card cannot stand either – tribunal departed from correct reasoning process for its
adverse finding arising out of the applicant’s delay in claiming asylum - tribunal member failed to address evidence that the applicant was a journalist for two other newspapers –