Four Moroccan stowaways found on a gas tanker in Cork last week were deported yesterday after dropping their claims for asylum.
The men were discovered on board the MV Cheshire. They had been discovered during the journey from Morocco and put under ship's arrest, but evaded immigration officials when the vessel docked in Cork Harbour.
A major search was launched after it was feared the men had jumped into the freezing harbour waters. They were eventually found attempting to leave the 60,000-tonne ship.
It was subsequently learned that they had unsuccessfully attempted to make asylum claims in Spain and Portugal en route to Ireland.
When the men were brought to Dublin to lodge their applications for asylum, they indicated they wished to withdraw their claims.
