Three Romanian men were arrested in Co Kilkenny yesterday after they emerged from the back of a lorry which had arrived from France. Two others were being sought last night by gardai.
The five men, all in their 20s or early 30s, fled across fields after they were discovered on the Thomastown road at Knocktopher shortly before 9.30 a.m.
Gardai were contacted by the lorry's owners and within a short time one of the men was arrested walking on the Waterford-Dublin road. Two others were discovered 20 minutes later walking back towards Knocktopher.
The three were taken to Thomastown Garda station and were transferred to Waterford station, where they applied for political asylum.