Two men, a Romanian and a Nigerian, were being held in Mountjoy prison in Dublin last night in preparation for their deportation within the next few days. Anti-racism campaigners picketed the prison for the second night in a row last night in protest at the deportation.
Friends of the two men, who arrived in Ireland in the past year, last night appealed to politicians and church groups to intervene in their cases. One of the men, Mr Julian Costiln from Romania, is a friend of the Costina family, which won a last-ditch reprieve from deportation several months ago.
Mr Costiln (23) was arrested at his flat in Seville Place yesterday morning and taken to the training unit in the prison. He faces deportation to France, from where he arrived seven months ago.
His Irish partner, Ms Lisa Moore from Hartstown, Clonsilla, last night appealed to the Department to let him stay. Ms Moore (19) said after visiting him yesterday that he was "very upset" and wanted only to stay in Ireland.
"He's very quiet, and keeps to himself. When I was sick, he took care of me. He speaks four languages, French, Italian, Romanian and English. Does this count for anything? Now he's lost, and I'm lost."
Ms Moore said Mr Costiln had tried to apply for asylum, but was refused permission to do so because he came through France. He now faces deportation to France under the Dublin Convention.
The second man, Mr Ekundayo Omoniyi, who is in his 30s, was arrested in the Department of Justice offices on Monday when he attended to renew his identity card, according to friends.
Mr Omoniyi has been in the Republic for about a year. He is expected to be sent to Belgium under the Dublin Convention, which allows the Irish authorities to send asylum-seekers back to the first EU state in which they arrive.
Anti-racism groups last night said they would maintain their protest outside the prison.
