by Louise McCarthy

Thomas with sons Josh and
Oisin, with mother Emily.

AN UNEMPLOYED Enniscorthy man is still awaiting the safe return of his young son left in the Philippines, because he could not afford the €3,500 to get him out of there.

Oisin O’Leary, is the son of Thomas and Emily, 39 Westbury Heights, Enniscorthy, and was prevented from leaving the Philippines because his parents were unable to pay the €3,500 required to allow him to leave.

A fundraiser, called the Digout Night, held at Pierce Redmond’s pub, Raheenduff, last Saturday night, raised approximately €600. The night was organised by Mr O’Leary’s nephew, James Turner.

Oisin was left with a family friend at Manila airport,on March 19, because his mother did not have the €3,500, demanded from her by emigration. They would have been allowed leave with Oisin if they had forked out €3,500 or had the Filipino passport for him.

Instead, seven -year-old Oisin was left in Manila, while his brother, Josh, and mother Emily, left him at the airport, in the care of a family friend. His brother, Josh, was permitted to leave because he holds both an Irish and Filipino passport.

Oisin was born in Wexford, but has spent the majority of his seven years in Manila. He was travelling with his mother and brother, to be reunited with his father, Thomas O’Leary.

Talking to The Echo, Mr O’Leary, said that he is very concerned that his son is extremely upset about being separated from his mother. However, Mr O’Leary said that he cannot afford the €3,500 demanded by emigration in the Philippines. He worked for over 25 years in the water sector, but has been unemployed for some time. Currenly Oisin is being cared for by his grandmother in the Philippines.

“We still need a lot more money, I am unemployed now for about a year, things are very difficult. Things can only get better. Oisin gets very upset when he is on the phone to his mother,” said Mr O’Leary.