She claimed comments last week by the charge d'affaires at the Nigerian embassy in Dublin were untrue. Onochie Amobi had said that Great would not be treated as an outcast in Nigeria and there were "all sorts" of educational and medical institutions suitable for him.

"He [Amobi] knows the powers-that-be in Nigeria would accuse him of being 'unpatriotic' and posted back home should he tell the truth, " Agbonlahor told the Sunday Tribune yesterday.

Agbonlahor claimed that a Nigerian embassy representative delivered a consolatory message a few days before the family's deportation, saying, 'Great will face a harsh culture of ignorance if deported to Nigeria.' "I remember the lady emissary wept a bucketful of tears when conveying the ambassador's message, " she said. "Now, the officials of the embassy are singing a different tune."

The family travelled to Ghana from Lagos earlier this week having heard that some facilities for autistic children might be available there. Yesterday, Agbonlahor was due to visit a school that may accept autistic children. "It looks after special needs children by keeping them together. They are not able to help them because they have not been trained. The school will be nothing like the amazing care Great was getting in Ireland, " she said.

The Agbonlahors are currently staying in a hotel while they look for an apartment to rent. "But I don't know how long we can stay here because Great is disturbing the other people and they said if it continues we will have to leave, " said his mother, speaking to the Sunday Tribune by telephone from Ghana. Throughout the call, Great could be heard screaming loudly in the background as Olivia wept.

"I have to lock him in his room. He's my child and I love him but I don't know how to help him, " she said.

The solicitor for the family, Kevin Brophy, will seek an application for leave to bring judicial review proceedings of their deportation on 1 October. "If that is granted, a full hearing won't be for another year, " he said. "Great needs stability and familiar patterns. Unfortunately, that's not what he's getting."