25 deported in Irish-UK operation

The Irish Refugee Council has expressed concern over the deportation of 25 east European nationals in a joint operation between…

The Irish Refugee Council has expressed concern over the deportation of 25 east European nationals in a joint operation between Irish and British authorities.

Mr Peter O'Mahony of the Irish Refugee Council said he had a particular concern that deportations on private or chartered aircraft meant there was "no independent scrutiny".

Mr O'Mahony went on to say: "Chartered aircraft means there is no external witness. There is the potential for someone being abused out of the public eye. They are landing away from public view. We don't know if the trip was safe and what happens afterwards. "

He said the Irish Refugee Council had also pointed out the lack of independent witnesses on people being turned away from ports and airports.

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The 25 eastern European nationals were put on an aircraft at 3 p.m. yesterday.

The flight was due to stop at Stansted airport in London to pick up 10 more Moldovans and Romanians who were being deported from Britain before proceeding to Romania.

Members of the National Immigration Bureau as well as a number of British immigration officials were on board the flight, as is standard practice, though the Garda Press Office and the British Home Office would not confirm how many.

Some 484 people have been deported so far this year and the most recent operation, according to the Garda Press Office would be more effective because the costs were shared.