Two foreign nationals are expected to be deported from Cork today, despite making a desperate attempt to seek refuge in Ireland by slitting their wrists.
Department of Justice officials were last night finalising details for the deportation of the two eastern European men who slashed their wrists after arriving into Cork on a flight from Paris at the weekend.
The men, both in their early 30s, stunned onlookers when they used pieces of glass to cut themselves as security officials questioned them over their documents on Saturday afternoon.
It is understood that as immigration officials checked their passports and papers, both men withdrew shards of glass and slashed their wrists.
Both men, believed to be Lithuanian, were rushed to the South Infirmary Hospital for emergency treatment and were later transferred into Garda custody.
They were detained for the weekend at Cork Prison while a Garda investigation into the incident began.
It is not known whether the men had the objects used to inflict the wounds with them on the flight or not. However, a spokesperson for Aer Rianta said they were happy with the security measures in place at airports in both Cork and France.
While it was confirmed that neither party sustained life-threatening injuries, it emerged that they made a second attempt to interfere with their wounds and had to receive further treatment.
After being denied landing rights to stay in Ireland under the Immigration Act, it is expected that if deemed medically fit, the men will be deported back to Paris some time later today.