[Niamh.]

(didn't see a thread on this already?)

'They are being treated with compassion': Gardaí say 16 men on Irish ferry 'fortunate' to be found

GARDAÍ THIS EVENING have confirmed that all 16 people found in a container are in good health and were “fortunate” to be discovered by staff.

Supertintendent Jim Doyle told the press that the men are are in good health and are currently being processed under Irish immigration law.

He also confirmed that all 16 men are from the Middle East. The men are aged from 20 to 40 and are said to be in good health.

The lorry in which the men were found is owned by an Irish company and was being driven at the time by an Irish driver. No arrests have been made.

Earlier today, gardai and emergency services boarded the ferry at Rosslare Port.

Two ambulances and several doctors’ cars and police cars drove onto the ship’s vehicle deck shortly after it docked shortly after 3pm.

A large police and Immigration Bureau presence was visible around the port.

The container was on board a Stena Line ferry which departed from Cherbourg, France last night and arrived in Rosslare just after 3pm this afternoon.

Ian Hampton, Stena Line’s chief people and communications officer, confirmed an employee discovered the people during a routine inspection.

He said: “During the Stena Horizon’s 9pm sailing from Cherbourg, France, to Rosslare in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday November 20, one of our employees during a routine inspection discovered 16 people in a sealed trailer on the vehicle deck.

“All the individuals are reported to be in good health and have been moved to a private passenger lounge on the ship where their wellbeing is the focus of our employees.

“Stena Line has alerted security and immigration officials in Rosslare so as the necessary arrangements can be made for the group on the vessel’s arrival in Rosslare.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this afternoon said that the State’s initial response will be to make sure that the health of those aboard the ferry is good.



In a statement this afternoon, gardaí said they were investigating “potential breaches of immigration legislation”.

A spokesman said: “At approximately 09:45am today, the captain of the ferry alerted gardaí that a number of people had been discovered in the trailer of an articulated tractor unit on the vehicle deck.

“All the individuals appear in good health and are currently receiving medical assessments on arrival at Rosslare Port. Garda Immigration Officers attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) will carry out an assessment on the immigration status of all the persons.”

Gardaí added that the driver and the owners of the articulated vehicle are assisting with the investigation.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan this evening issued a statement which stated he was “concerned” by the this morning’s news.

He said: “I was extremely concerned to learn of another incident of people being found in a sealed lorry container, on this occasion on board a ferry.

“There is an active garda investigation underway and I would appeal to anyone with any information on these nefarious activities to come forward. I welcome the statement issued by An Garda Síochána earlier today.

“The persons found in the lorry container are now being cared for by State services. As part of that care, they will receive initial medical assessments.”

With reporting by Garreth MacNamee and PA

https://www.thejournal.ie/rosslare-t...00569-Nov2019/

[Cherie]

A sealed container...these traffickers don’t give a **** do they

[Ammi]

..’they are being treated with compassion’...“The persons found in the lorry container are now being cared for by State services. As part of that care, they will receive initial medical assessments.”.......I’m glad that they’re okay and being cared for...

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

A sealed container...these traffickers don’t give a **** do they

Originally Posted by Ammi

..’they are being treated with compassion’...“The persons found in the lorry container are now being cared for by State services. As part of that care, they will receive initial medical assessments.”.......I’m glad that they’re okay and being cared for...

A better outcome than those poor Vietnamese people thankfully

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

A better outcome than those poor Vietnamese people thankfully

I wonder if this is a new route now Belgium and the UK have tightened up given the above

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I wonder if this is a new route now Belgium and the UK have tightened up given the above

I don't know but what's concerning to me is in both this and the previous case where the people died, it seems to have been Irish drivers involved in both cases. They need to get really serious with anyone involved in trafficking people like this.

[Kizzy]

They were very lucky to be found :/

[arista]

Yes I was trying do a thread
but was held back at work.

The Good thing about this one
is all alive.

Will Ireland return them,
I guess not..........

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes I was trying do a thread
but was held back at work.

The Good thing about this one
is all alive.

Will Ireland return them,
I guess not..........

They will if the 16 turns into 1600 and resources start getting stretched like Islands like Malta

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I don't know but what's concerning to me is in both this and the previous case where the people died, it seems to have been Irish drivers involved in both cases. They need to get really serious with anyone involved in trafficking people like this.

The driver in this case has not been arrested which is odd!

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

The driver in this case has not been arrested which is odd!

I suppose there's a chance he didn't know, just picked the truck up and drove, that seems unlikely though. I guess just because he's not been arrested yet, doesn't mean he won't be at all. We'll have to wait and see

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I suppose there's a chance he didn't know, just picked the truck up and drove, that seems unlikely though. I guess just because he's not been arrested yet, doesn't mean he won't be at all. We'll have to wait and see

Feel sorry for lorry drivers now, they can unwittingly find themselves in a situation not of their own making

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Feel sorry for lorry drivers now, they can unwittingly find themselves in a situation not of their own making

Yeah, although I would have thought that the Lorry driver would have to inspect the truck before locking it and driving off. Kind of like when they ask you about whether you packed your own luggage at the airport

[Nicky91]

happens quite often these days i notice

https://www.tellerreport.com/news/20...1MHiJpWnB.html
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/1...iver-arrested/

this was from our country in vlaardingen, 26 stowaways on a ferry which was on its way to britain

people from Iraq, Kuwait, and a romanian driver



and this was from 2 years back

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-d...-idUSKCN1BP28I


or this one
https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Ill...280a5219756-ds

[bitontheslide]

criminal gangs will do anything if there is money involved, and trafficking is very big business at present. For every man they catch there will be 10 ready to replace him

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

criminal gangs will do anything if there is money involved, and trafficking is very big business at present. For every man they catch there will be 10 ready to replace him

yes, the criminal underworld is very dangerous

and also once you're into that, you can't really get out of that very easily


here we have a lot of assassinations on people involved (or lawyers of key witnesses against these gangs) within this criminal underworld

[LeatherTrumpet]

hopefully they will be quickly sent home to their families with a stern warning.