Flight carrying 35 people deported from Ireland makes stop over medical incident

A flight carrying 35 people, including five children, who were being deported from Ireland was forced to make an unscheduled stop over a medical incident on board.

The 21 men, nine woman and five children left on a chartered flight which departed Dublin Airport on Wednesday night for Nigeria.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed it was the third chartered flight used for deportations this year, at a cost of 324,714 euros which he said was “value for money”.

The plane was required to make the unscheduled stop, but Mr O’Callaghan said he was “happy to say” that the flight was able to resume its journey with “all 35 returnees arriving safely” in Lagos on Thursday morning.

The people deported were Nigerian nationals.

Mr O’Callaghan confirmed the “completion of a successful deportation operation” in a statement on Thursday morning.

He said that the deported children were part of a family unit.

It is the third operation carried out since the recommencement of charter flights for deportations in February of this year.

“Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Siochana to enforce deportation orders and is a measure Mr O’Callaghan is deploying to step up immigration enforcement,” the justice department said.

“Further charter operations will be conducted as the year progresses.”

Mr O’Callaghan said that people coming to Ireland must follow the “appropriate pathways” for legal migration.

“Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced,” he added.

“The return of people whose applications have been refused and deportation orders have issued is the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process.

“People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration and these pathways must be adhered to and protected for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively.

“If a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State they must do so.

“This is the third charter operation this year. Removal operations of this nature send a clear message that there are consequences for people who remain in our country without permission and underscores this Government’s intention to protect the integrity of our immigration system.

“The flight was required to make an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, but I am happy to say that the flight was able to resume its journey with all 35 returnees arriving safely in Nigeria this morning.

“I want to thank the members of An Garda Siochana and my officials for their work in conducting this successful operation.”

The charter flights are used in addition to commercial flights.

These operations are conducted under a contract signed by the State in November 2024 for the provision of charter aircraft.

Mr O’Callaghan added: “Enforced removals are conducted as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.

“Before a deportation order is made, the person is offered assistance to return home voluntarily which is the preferred option.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of people leaving voluntarily and I continue to appeal to those who are given this opportunity to avail of it where appropriate.”

Two charter flights already conducted this year have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders.

This operation brings the number of people removed by charter flight to 106.

Additionally, 54 deportation orders have been enforced on commercial flights and 23 people subject to deportation orders are confirmed to have left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025.

Minister for Migration Colm Brophy said: “Having a modern immigration system where its laws are effective and enforced is a key priority for this Government.

“The removal of people who have no legal right to be in the State, and the enforcement aspect of our immigration laws, are essential for the system to work effectively.

“Today’s flight, the third charter flight this year, underpins the Government’s commitment in this area. I would like to thank members of An Garda Siochana for their ongoing hard work and commitment to ensuring that our returns system is effective and efficient.

“This Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order.

“This is the preferred option, and I would encourage those who are provided the opportunity to return voluntarily to avail of it. So far this year, 694 people have availed of the voluntary return programme.”

In a statement, a spokesman for the gardai said that the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carried out the operation.

An Garda Siochana said it continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy.

Minister for Children Norma Foley said parents who are subject to deportation orders should consider leaving Ireland voluntarily, saying it is in the “best interest” of everyone.

Speaking on Thursday, Ms Foley said she accepts it is a “really, really challenging space and very difficult”.

“I absolutely accept that. I would have to say, though, that we have to have a very clear, rules-based system,” she added.

“I think people who come to the country need to know what the rules are, and the system will work as per the rules. It is my understanding in this instance, when you come and your case is assessed, if you have a right to be here, you stay here. You are supported here.

“If it is deemed that you don’t have a right to be here, you have a right to challenge that. And there is an appeal process, and if you’re unsuccessful with the appeal process, you are given the opportunity to leave the country voluntarily, and there is assistance provided for you to leave voluntarily.

“Many, many take up that opportunity to leave voluntarily. But if you don’t leave, then there is this option that has to be taken in terms of you are being competitively.

“I would not want any child or any person to be in a stressful or stressed situation, but I think we must be clear as well that it is a rules based system.

“We want it to be fair, and we want the outcome to be fair. I think it’s very important, and I think parents really should maybe consider this as an option.

“If you are given the opportunity to leave the country voluntarily, if assistance is provided to support you to do that, it would be in the best interest of everybody that you would do that voluntarily.

“This measure of being compelled to leave, that’s a measure of last, last resort.”