Great had been unwell last Sunday night and on Monday Olivia took him to a doctor. He recommended in writing that Great not travel pending a further examination. The Agbonlahors' solicitor forwarded this recommendation to the GNIB. On Tuesday morning, the GNIB wrote to the solicitor enclosing letters from two doctors. One was from the doctor who had first seen Great, contradicting his earlier opinion, and saying that Great was fit to travel. An acccompanying letter from a second doctor who examined Great at the request of the GNIB confirmed this assessment. Great and his family were deported later that day.

According to Olivia Agbonlahor, both Great and Melissa have been ill since arrival in Lagos, suffering from vomiting and diarroeha. The doctor at a private clinic in Lagos said this was likely a reaction to the food. The children have never been to Nigeria before, having been born in Italy and living in Ireland the past four years.

Speaking by phone from Lagos, Olivia Agbonlahor told the Sunday Tribune that Great had been severely distressed since arrival in Lagos.

"He's always screaming and blocking his ears. We can't go out on the street. I can't go out unless I get a taxi, and I don't have the money for taxis. There's so much noise and traffic, it's too much for him. He's still talking of Mandy, his special needs assistant (in Ireland). He wants to see Mandy."

The Agbonlahors had appealed to be allowed stay in Ireland on humanitarian grounds because of the lack of facilities for the treatment of autism in Nigeria. Their appeal was rejected by the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, as well as his predecessor, Michael McDowell. Their case will be back in court, in their absence, on 1 October, as their solicitor, Kevin Brophy, is seeking a judicial review of the decision to refuse them asylum.

A Garda spokesperson would not comment on the deportation. The Sunday Tribune was unable to contact the doctor who examined Great. The lobby group, Residents Against Racism, is organising a protest for next Thursday at 12.30pm at the Department of Justice in Dublin.