Five children among 35 people deported to Nigeria on chartered flight

Five children were among a group of 35 people deported to Nigeria on a chartered flight from Dublin Airport on Wednesday.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau carried out the operation, which involved 21 men, nine women and five children. The children involved were deported as part of family groups.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said returning people whose applications had been refused and who have had deportation orders issued against them is “the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process.”

“People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration and these pathways must be adhered to and protected for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively. If a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State they must do so.

This is the third charter operation this year, he added.

“Removal operations of this nature send a clear message that there are consequences for people who remain in our country without permission and underscores this Government’s intention to protect the integrity of our immigration system.”

The minister also said that the flight “was required to make an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, but I am happy to say that the flight was able to resume its journey with all 35 returnees arriving safely in Nigeria this morning.”

“I want to thank the members of An Garda Síochána and my officials for their work in conducting this successful operation.”