'Francovich' Damages Awarded Against Ireland For Breach Of European Law

Ogieriakhi v Minister for Justice and Equality & Ors (No. 2) [2014] IEHC 582

In December 2014, the Irish High Court awarded damages of over €100,000 against Ireland and the Attorney General to an individual due to Ireland's breach of European Law. The case is a rare example of a successful claim for damages against the State, known as "Francovich" damages (after the leading European case), arising from the failure of the State to correctly incorporate a European Directive into Irish law. The success of this damages claim highlights the importance for Ireland of correctly implementing and interpreting European Directives. In 2007, Mr Ogieriakhi, originally a Nigerian national, was refused permanent residency in the State by the Minister for Justice and Equality. He was subsequently dismissed from his employment as a postal sorter with An Post on the sole ground that he could not establish that he had the right to work in the State. Mr Ogieriakhi took a claim for damages against the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Attorney General and An Post, on the basis that the Minister's refusal to grant permanent residency infringed European law. Mr Ogieriakhi claimed that he was entitled to permanent residency under Article 16(2) of the Free Movement Directive 2004. Article 16(2) grants a right of permanent residence to a family member of an EU citizen following a continuous period of residence within the EU Member State for a five year period. Mr Ogieriakhi claimed that he satisfied this criterion by his marriage to a French national, who was employed in Ireland between the years of 1999 and 2004. The couple had since separated (and ultimately divorced) with Mr Ogieriakhi's former wife returning to France. The 2004 Directive came into force on 30 April 2006 and was transposed into Irish law by regulations on 1 January 2007. The Minister refused Mr Ogieriakhi's application for...