Fatima* arrived in Ireland alone at 17, fleeing forced marriage in her home country. Despite her age, she was incorrectly assessed as an adult and placed in inappropriate accommodation, without access to the rights and protections afforded to children.
The Irish Refugee Council’s Independent Law Centre successfully supported Fatima with legal representation during her age reassessment. She was placed in State care, moved to safe, age-appropriate accommodation and could now enjoy her rights as a child in the State, including education, basic care, and the right to family reunification if granted protection status.
Fatima’s experience reflects a broader issue. Many unaccompanied minors are wrongly assessed as adults by Tusla and treated accordingly by Irish authorities. The Law Centre provides legal support to these children throughout the age assessment process and in their international protection applications.
These young people are among the most vulnerable in the system—arriving alone, often traumatised by conflict, exploitation, or displacement. Misidentifying a child’s age can have serious consequences: unsafe accommodation, increased risk, and exclusion from education and child-specific services. Legal advocacy is essential to protect their rights and ensure compliance with Irish and international child protection standards.
One ongoing challenge is the inconsistent and flawed nature of age assessments. Authorities often rely on appearance or presentation rather than appropriate, evidence-based methods. Cultural misunderstandings and poorly reasoned decisions further compromise fairness. Additionally, there is no formal process to reassess individuals who turn 18 before a correction is made—meaning those who arrived as minors may permanently lose access to vital protections.
Our work is supported by dedicated partnerships with youth organisations, social workers, and migrant rights groups. We are also grateful for the contribution of pro bono legal professionals through the KIND project—an initiative adapted from the U.S. to provide free, child-friendly legal support to unaccompanied minors in Europe seeking protection and family reunification.
*Name changed to protect identity.