The backlog in naturalisation of immigrants in the east of the country caused a judge to voice his surprise in the District Court in Athlone this week when two Sri Lankans braved the freezing conditions from Balbriggan and Dunboyne in order to beat three and four month waits.
“You came down here on those roads, this morning?” asked Judge David Anderson of the first of the applicants when he heard he was from Balbriggan, Co Dublin and had travelled to save himself from three months delay for the same process in his local courthouse.
“You could’ve saved yourself a trip and come to me in Navan tomorrow,” said the judge.
The judge raised another eyebrow when he heard the second applicant say he was from Dunboyne, Co Meath, only 30 kms from Navan, but that the backlog in that courthouse was over four months.
“Four months? Good job you didn’t have to go to Bandon or somewhere like that,” said the judge, before completing their residency formalities.
