McGuinness backs mother's appeal

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A Cameroon woman and her NI-born daughter, threatened with deportation, should be allowed to remain here, Martin McGuinness has said.

Lordorice Djountso and her daughter, Imelda, made their case to the deputy first minister at Stormont.

Mr McGuinness said Ms Djountso had been "terribly abused" in Cameroon and had a right to be protected.

The family returned to Northern Ireland recently after two months in a detention centre in Bedfordshire.

"The people of south Belfast have taken Lordorice and Imelda to their hearts.

"I believe there is widespread support for both of them to remain here," Mr McGuinness said.

Ms Djountso, whose daughter was born in Northern Ireland, faces another deportation hearing on 22 June.

She sought asylum after fleeing Cameroon in 2005 following the murder of two family members in a dispute with a local tribal chief.