An 18-year-old Somali refugee won court approval to challenge her adult placement and aftercare eligibility despite proof of her minor status.

An 18-year-old Somali refugee who arrived in Ireland alone in March 2024 and was granted international protection has won High Court permission to challenge her placement in adult accommodation and her eligibility for aftercare support. Represented by the Irish Refugee Council, she claims Tusla wrongly assessed her as an adult despite providing a Somali birth certificate, dated September 2007, which was confirmed by the International Protection Office in 2025. Her legal team argues the agency failed to follow proper age verification procedures, violating the International Protection Act 2015 and the Child Care Act 1991, leaving her without child-specific services, education, or a guardian. The court granted her leave to seek a reassessment and potential aftercare plan, adjourning the case to March.