The Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling that a 76-year-old Russian man who claimed he was born in Dublin during World War II is entitled to Irish citizenship.

Two years ago, the High Court ruled Sergey Chesnokov had established he was born in Dublin's Henrietta Street in September 1940.

The court directed that his birth be registered here, entitling him to citizenship.

He had taken the High Court action after An tArd-Chlaraitheoir (the Registrar General) refused to register him as Irish born.

The Registrar appealed the finding. Today the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the High Court.

The court found the evidence and documents submitted were not adequate to establish as a matter of probability that he was born in Ireland.

The case was adjourned for a week to allow both parties consider the decision.

Mr Chesnokov was not present in court today.

In his High Court case, Mr Chesnokov's said his son now lives in Ireland and he had sought Irish citizenship so he could travel here and be involved with the life of his grandchild.

In his application he also gave an undertaking not to apply for any social welfare payments from the Irish State.

Mr Chesnokov said he was born in Ireland in late September 1940 in a room at 5 Henreitta Street.

His aunt was the only person present with his mother Liubov at the time of the birth.

He claimed his aunt and mother came to Ireland from England during the London Blitz.

Shortly after Mr Chesnokov's birth, his mother and aunt returned to the then USSR.

His birth was registered with the Soviet authorities in October 1940, but was not registered with the Irish authorities because of his parent's fears it might be seen as anti-Soviet.

It was not known why his mother had been in the UK, how she came to Ireland or how she returned to the Soviet Union.

Mr Chesnokov claimed that all his official documentation including his trade union card, passport, marriage and driver's licence recorded his place of birth as being Dublin, Ireland.

There was also declarations from family and friends of Mr Chesnokov's family to support his claim.