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Joy as asylum family are allowed to stay in Glasgow

An African churchman and his family have won a seven-year battle to stay in Glasgow. Pastor Makieokele Daly says he feels like he has been freed from prison.

After years of waiting and worrying, having his asylum case repeatedly rejected and being locked up on three occasions, Pastor Daly has been given permission to stay on in the city indefinitely.

He and wife Isabella burst into tears when their lawyer called to say the Home Office had shown the entire family mercy.

In the Red Road flats, where they have lived since October 2000, the Daly family are well known and loved. On Wednesdays and Sundays hundreds cram into the Pentecostal Church of Redemption in Royston to hear the pastor's sermons.

The family came here following death threats in Angola after Pastor Daly defied Government orders to spy on members of his congregation. He is certain to be murdered if he returned there.

Despite repeated Home Office rejections, the family never lost hope. On two occasions all six were detained, but each time they secured an appeal and galvanised support for their campaign to stay.

Full story at the Glasgow Evening Times.