Deportation of Coatbridge mum put on hold
The Home Office is to review Olya Merry's case
The deportation case against a mother living in Coatbridge has been put on hold after political intervention.
Volha Merry - known as Olya - had received a letter from the Home Office saying she could be deported if she did not leave the UK this week, despite marrying local man Derek in 2013 and having a two-year-old daughter together.
Mrs Merry and her family live in Coatbridge, but the 28-year-old has struggled to get permission to stay in the UK since she married Derek five years ago.
The couple admitted they were worried for their daughter’s future.
But following political intervention from local MP Hugh Gaffney and the Scottish Government, Mr Merry said he is “delighted'' a review of the case will be carried out.
It means no deportation can go ahead during while the review is underway.
He told Clyde News: “It’s a relief that this has been halted for the time being. It gives us breathing space to figure out what we can do now. The support from everybody has been brilliant.”
External affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop and local politicians contacted the Home Office calling for a review of the case.
Ms Hyslop wrote to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd asking for her to “look into the case as a matter of urgency''.
Labour MP for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, Hugh Gaffney, and SNP MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Fulton MacGregor, also took up the case.
A spokesman for Mr Gaffney said: “After hearing from the family that there was a threat of deportation, I immediately contacted the Minister for Immigration's office to ask for a review of Olya's case.
“My staff and I have met with the family and discussed a variety of ways to keep Olya in the country, and the family together.
“I have since spoken with the Minister for Immigration's office and had confirmation that there will now be a review carried out on Olya's case. In the meantime no deportation can go ahead.''
The couple previously lived in Ireland for almost six months, with Mr Merry saying the Home Office had advised them to make use of European freedom of movement rules.
They later relocated to Scotland when his wife fell pregnant.