THE High Court will today hear an application by an Algerian man to have two immigration officers sent to prison for alleged contempt of court following his deportation last week.
Mr Madani Haouanoh's lawyers were given leave to bring an application last Thursday by Mr Justice Kelly after the man was deported two days before. The contempt application is being brought against immigration officers Mr Stephen Byrne and Mr J.J. Coakley.
On Friday, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, defended the actions of the two immigration officers, who escorted Mr Haouanoh to a London airport. She said: "The two immigration officers are two members of the Garda Siochana. They have a job to do when somebody arrives in this country without the necessary papers".
The officers boarded the flight with Mr Haouanoh about an hour before the High Court granted a temporary injunction staying the deportation.