Gardaí have denied a claim that a Nigerian woman was forcibly drugged prior to her deportation last week.
However, a spokesman acknowledged that a doctor and nurse were called as Iyabo Nwanze was resisting her deportation from Dublin airport. He declined to say whether this was done at the request of the woman or the immigration authorities.
The denial comes as controversy continues to rage about the deportation of Ms Nwanze and 34 other Nigerians last Tuesday. Two school principals spoke out yesterday against the deportation of Nigerian pupils, and classmates of Olunkunle Eluhanla (19), a Leaving Cert student at Palmerstown community college, plan to demonstrate outside the Dáil tomorrow.
Ms Nwanze, who had one of her children with her, has told supporters medical staff stuck a needle in her arm as she was struggling. She says that once she was sedated, she was taken on board the aircraft in a wheelchair.
She had taken off her clothes while still in the terminal building in an effort to stave off deportation. She claims she was manhandled by immigration officers and subjected to racial abuse.
Yesterday, a spokesman from the Garda press office said the immigration authorities had "no policy" to administer drugs to calm down deportees. Medical staff had attended to Ms Nwanze but no information was available regarding the treatment she received.
However, Rosanna Flynn of Residents against Racism said Ms Nwanze had told her she had received an injection when she resisted deportation. Ms Flynn described Ms Nwanze as a "very moderate woman" who had never been outspoken before. "She was too docile, she never wanted to make a fuss."
The deported woman, who is currently staying at a village near Lagos, took one pre-school child with her but left her other child Emmanuel (8) behind in Athlone.
Emmanuel has now gone into hiding, along with five other children and one adult based in the midlands who fear deportation.
John O'Neill, the principal of Summerhill national school, said the rights of children were not being respected.
"To snatch two mothers and deport them, and leave the children behind, is incredible."
Mr O'Neill said he "could not say enough" about one of the children in hiding, Chiemele Ikwukeme. "I recommended him for special classes in the Centre for Talented Youth in DCU because he is so bright and keen."
Meanwhile, Gerry Hand, principal of Castleblayney community school in Co Monaghan, said students at his school were receiving trauma counselling over the deportation of a classmate, Ike Okolie (15), who was sent back to Nigeria last week with his mother, younger brother and younger sister.
Mr Hand described Ike as an "absolute model student" and said his mother, Nkechie, was very involved in voluntary groups and charities. "An absolutely fantastic woman, not someone who just came and used the system," he said.
The school left an empty spot on the stage last week during its production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to mark the absence of cast member Ike.
