The estranged twin daughters of an Irishman who has been held in a Texas immigration detention facility for practically 5 months blasted their father as an absentee dad or mum — arguing he needs to be despatched again to Eire to face long-standing drug expenses, based on a report.
Heather and Melissa Morrissey felt compelled to talk out after their father, Seamus Culleton, pleaded on RTÉ radio for Irish authorities to intervene in his US detention so he may return to his American spouse and life in Boston, the place he runs a development firm, based on the Every day Mail.
The twins, who’re about to show 19, advised the outlet that Culleton “deserted” them once they had been 18 months outdated, leaving their mom, Margaret “Maggie” Morrissey, to boost them alone.
“I really feel that we had been born and he simply up and left. He did abandon us. That’s what he did,” Heather advised the outlet about her father, who Division of Homeland authorities stated overstayed his 90-day vacationer visa greater than 15 years in the past.
The sisters stated they haven’t obtained “a penny” in little one help from their father and by no means noticed him in individual once more after he moved to the US.
In addition they stated Culleton was naive to return ahead about his immigration case with the excellent drug expenses towards him.
The alleged deadbeat dad was hit with a number of expenses in Eire in 2008 for intent to promote or provide, possession of medication for private consumption, and obstructing a garda, or a police officer, in the midst of their obligation, the outlet reported.
A district court docket in New Ross, County Wexford, Eire, later sought a bench warrant after Culleton failed to seem in court docket, although it was by no means issued as a result of he had already left the nation, based on the publication.
“He was making himself out to be a saint, like he’s performed nothing unsuitable, like he is aware of that there are warrants right here for his arrest and that was going to return out,” Heather added.
The twins stated they had been shocked to listen to their father’s voice when he known as into RTÉ radio, describing the “torture” he’s skilled after being locked up at a Fort Bliss Military base in Texas.
Heather famous that Culleton contacted her briefly after his detention, however solely after she requested a relative to immediate him to name.
“He advised me that he obtained detained by ICE… he doesn’t know when he’s going to get out. That was about it. I haven’t heard from him since then,” she stated.
The sisters additionally expressed anger over a GoFundMe marketing campaign that has raised practically $30,000 for Culleton’s authorized charges, with Melissa calling it “practically little one upkeep cash.”
In addition they stated they had been damage by feedback from Culleton’s spouse, Tiffany Smyth, on TikTok that she wished her husband to return to their Boston residence to maintain their “infants” in reference to their canine.
“They’re canine. I perceive folks love animals and all that, however he has youngsters. His canine aren’t his youngsters,” stated Heather.
The Submit has been unable to find the TikToks described within the report, although the GoFundMe for Culleton referenced the pair’s canine, “Caesar & Cleopatra.”
Culleton advised Irish media that he had a sound US work allow and a pending inexperienced card software when he was nabbed by brokers after stopping at a House Depot.
He was cuffed and ultimately flown greater than 2,000 miles from residence to a camp facility in Texas, the place he alleged he’s been locked in the identical “filthy” room.
In an announcement on X, Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated Culleton “obtained full due course of and was issued a closing deportation order from a federal decide.”
“On September 9, 2025, ICE arrested Seamus Culleton, an unlawful alien from Eire. He entered the US in 2009 beneath the visa waiver program, which lets you keep within the U.S. for 90 days with no visa,” McLaughin stated.
“He did not depart the U.S. He obtained full due course of and was issued a closing order of elimination by an immigration decide on September 10, 2025. He was provided the possibility to immediately be eliminated to Eire however selected to remain in ICE custody, actually he took affirmative steps to stay in detention.”
As his case made its means by means of the immigration courts, Culleton claims he has been pressured to endure torturous situations which have left him fearing for his life.
“You don’t know what’s going to occur on a day-to-day foundation. You don’t know if there’s going to be riots, you don’t know what’s going to occur,” Culleton stated, including that he has been locked in the identical room for months.
“I’ve barely any outdoors time, no recent air, no sunshine. We’ve two TVs on the wall, there are 72 detainees right here in complete. We get three meals a day, very very small meals – child dimension meals, so everyone is hungry,” he stated, including that the “fully nasty” bogs are “very hardly ever cleaned.”
Politicians within the detained man’s native Eire have vowed to complain to the White Home about his case.
