Catering on deportation flights was changed after pork sausages were included as part of an Irish breakfast served on a forced return flight to Pakistan, according to a human-rights monitoring report.
The first chartered deportation flight, transporting 24 men to the country, which has a majority Muslim population, took place on September 23rd, 2025. A human-rights monitor travelled on board along with gardaí, a doctor and an interpreter.
A monitor is appointed by the Department of Justice for each deportation flight to report on the operation, including treatment of returnees and use of restraint, and to make recommendations or note exceptionally good practice.
A series of monitoring reports were obtained by The Irish Times following an appeal against an initial refusal by the department to release them under Freedom of Information legislation.
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The reports noted that “overall” the operations were conducted humanely and with respect for “the rights and dignity of the returnees”.
On the September 23rd flight, Garda feedback about the two meals served was that “the quality of the food provided was of a lower standard than expected and that the serving of pork sausages as part of a full Irish breakfast was inappropriate”. The monitor understood halal food would be available, but it was “not specified in the flight brief”.
The men on the charter to Pakistan were held in three prisons the night before. Two were assessed as high risk, one because of previous offending and the other because of behaviour in prison. A number of gardaí were assigned to each deportee.
As they were being escorted on to the plane, one man was concerned he was being filmed by a garda who was pointing a mobile phone in their direction. He was persuaded to board, and it was “confirmed that recording was taking place”, the report notes.
Shortly after disembarking in Islamabad, two of the men returned to the plane “agitated”. One had not got his mobile phone back; the other was missing his luggage. These were being given to the Garda team by the Irish Prison Service; the men were assured that their belongings would be returned.
Deportees’ belongings not always being returned is a recurring issue in the reports.
A total of 52 people were returned to Georgia on a flight on November 3rd, 2025: 35 men, seven women and three families comprising mothers with children ranging from five months to 17 years. They were accompanied by 113 gardaí and two support staff.
One of the men was restrained on the ground and handcuffed before being carried on to the plane by gardaí. The monitor said they “heard sounds of a struggle” as a man was being taken from a van to board. A “soft mat” was brought to the vehicle “and almost immediately the returnee was removed from the van and placed on the mat, face up, lying on his back ... restrained by a number of gardaí”.
He was then carried on to the aircraft. He had been demanding access to his phone, which was in the aircraft hold.
