K. (Zimbabwe) v International Protection Appeals Tribunal (Approved)

             These judicial review proceedings relate to a decision to refuse to recognise the applicant as a refugee and/or as a person entitled to subsidiary protection.� The decision was made, on appeal, by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (� Appeals Tribunal �).� The Appeals Tribunal held, in effect, that the applicant�s claim lacked credibility.� Importantly, the Appeals Tribunal chose to defer consideration of the country of origin information until after it had already reached its findings of fact.�

             The principal issues raised in these judicial review proceedings are as follows.� First, whether the Appeals Tribunal erred in its approach to the country of origin information.� Secondly, whether the Appeals Tribunal made a fundamental error of fact in its assessment of the applicant�s credibility.

             The applicant is a national of the Republic of Zimbabwe.� The applicant travelled to Ireland in May 2019.� On arrival at Dublin Airport, she made an application for refugee status and subsidiary protection.�

             The procedure under the International Protection Act 2015 involves a number of different stages.� The first stage consists of what is described as a � preliminary interview � pursuant to Section 13 of the Act.� The stated purpose of a preliminary interview is to establish, among other things, whether the interviewed person wishes to make an application for international protection, and, if so, the general grounds on which the application is based.�

             The record of the applicant�s preliminary interview has been exhibited as part of these judicial review proceedings.� Relevantly, the applicant is recorded as having stated that her life is in danger and that she is at risk from both of the political parties described below.