Birmingham woman smuggled Somali into Ireland on lookalike's passport - who then claimed asylum

A Birmingham healthcare assistant has admitted to people smuggling offences after being apprehended at Dublin Airport earlier this year.

Muna Mohamed Sharif, 47, who resides in Bodmin Grove in the English city, was taken into custody on April 10 after arriving at the Irish airport.

The woman appeared before Dublin District Court on Friday, where she formally entered guilty pleas to charges brought by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Defence barrister Paddy Flynn informed Judge Mark O'Connell that his client fully understood the implications of the pleas she had signed.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Sharif faces accusations of helping another woman enter Ireland unlawfully using fraudulent documentation.

Immigration officers at Terminal 2 became suspicious when they observed the two women making eye contact, despite having presented themselves separately to border control.

This observation prompted further investigation, which revealed that Sharif had supplied her companion with a Swedish passport belonging to someone who resembled the traveller.

The woman using the fraudulent document was a Somali national, the court was told.

Following her detention, Sharif admitted to investigators her involvement in the scheme.

The Somali woman has since lodged an asylum application in Ireland.

Examination of Sharif's mobile phone uncovered messages between her and the legitimate passport holder regarding payment for use of the travel document.

Det Garda Kerry O'Sullivan told the court that Sharif "made no reply" when the charges were put to her.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Shocking moment French Navy spotted handing life jackets to small boat migrants
• Illegal migrants make record 22-hour Channel crossing as hundreds arrive in UK
• France proving worth of £660m migrant deal after intercepting two-thirds of boats bound for Britain

The accused has held British citizenship and has been living in the United Kingdom since 2002, the detective confirmed during cross-examination.

Her passport has been confiscated by the authorities.

An undisclosed sum of cash was also seized from Sharif at the time of her arrest.

While the detective acknowledged that Sharif had been cooperative during questioning, she remained unconvinced this meant the accused would attend future court hearings if granted bail.

Sharif was unable to secure her release from custody despite bail being consented to, her barrister told the court.

Mr Flynn argued that the lack of an Irish address should not preclude bail, noting that his client had friends in the country who could be reached via her phone.

However, the GNIB detective expressed doubt about these claimed connections, describing Sharif as "very elusive about her friends".

Judge O'Connell ordered that the case be transferred to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where sentencing is scheduled for 8th July.

The charges under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 carry a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment.

Legal aid was granted for her defence.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter