TOMMY Robinson’s Irish passport may have been “issued on a fraudulent basis and could be revoked”, Irish parliamentarians have said.
It comes after the far-right agitator, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested in Canada in June on suspicion of immigration offences.
A document shared online from the Canadian border agency showed Robinson had given his name as “Stephen Lennon” and said Ireland was his country of birth and citizenship.
Robinson shared this document on Twitter/X himself and said his mother was Irish, but questions have now been asked about its implications – given that he was actually born in the English town of Luton.
Acting like I’ve hidden the fact my mums Irish 🙈🏴🇮🇪 https://t.co/75zh4yKSnz
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 28, 2024
Members of Ireland’s Dáil (TDs) have called on the government to look into Robinson’s passport.
Dublin South-West’s Paul Murphy told The Guardian: “It is concerning that someone who is inciting racist violence across Britain and Ireland appears to be travelling on an Irish passport.
“It is doubly concerning that the Canadian documentation suggests that his place of birth was falsely given as Ireland. Is that what it says on his passport?
“If so, his passport would have been issued on a fraudulent basis and could be revoked.”
Irish Labour's Duncan Smith said the UK Foreign Office and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs should look into the validity of Robinson’s passport, saying: “If there are any question marks over the integrity of someone’s passport then that must be investigated.”
And former justice minister and Fine Gael TD Charles Flanagan said the issue should be “taken most seriously”, adding: “Any alleged violation must not only be taken seriously but acted upon and subject to formal investigation by the appropriate authorities.”
In 2013, Robinson pled guilty to illegally using a passport under the name “Paul Harris” to enter the USA. He was jailed for ten months.
In late July, Robinson fled the country after committing “flagrant” contempt of court relating to a film played at a protest in central London, the High Court was told.
The Solicitor General launched legal action against Robinson in June over alleged breaches of a court order after he lost a libel battle in 2021.
But Adam Payter, representing the Solicitor General, said it is believed Robinson left the jurisdiction hours after being released on unconditional bail following an arrest in Kent.
Justice Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest after he did not attend the hearing, but ordered that it not be carried out “until early October” to allow Robinson time to indicate that he would attend the next hearing voluntarily or to apply to “set aside” the warrant.
