Failed asylum seekers kept in overcrowded prisons before deportation flights

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Failed asylum seekers are being held in overcrowded prisons before being put on deportation flights, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has now raised concerns about more people being added to overcrowded prisons and the 'performative cruelty' of flights.
On Friday, May 30, capacity in prisons across the country was at 115 per cent.
Mr Gannon, who is the Soc Dems spokesman on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, asked Minister O'Callaghan to outline the policy governing the detention of individuals pending deportation on chartered flights.
The Minister confirmed that, to date this year, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State. A further 48 were removed on commercial airlines.
Some 20 people verified with the Department of Justice that they have left the State following a deportation order being issued against them.
He also stated that 119 enforced deportations requiring escort have occurred so far this year, up to May 23.
The Minister confirmed: 'The majority of these cases have involved periods of detention prior to Departure.
'Of the 71 people removed by charter flight, 56 were held in custody immediately prior to the flight. Any children removed were part of family groups and were not detained.
'When a person does not comply with a deportation order, they can be arrested and detained for the purposes of ensuring their deportation.
'The enforcement of deportation orders and the detention of people prior to their removal is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
'Most people have been detained in Cloverhill Remand Prison or the Dóchas Centre as appropriate. People have also been detained in Cork prison, Limerick prison and Midlands prison.'
On Friday, prison capacity at Cloverhill was 111 per cent. In the Dóchas Centre, the women's prison in Mountjoy, the capacity was at 127 per cent.
Cork (118 per cent), Limerick men's prison (119 per cent), Limerick women's prison (141 per cent) and Midlands Prison (116 per cent) were all also overfilled, according to daily figures produced by the Irish Prison Service.
Deputy Gannon told the Irish Mirror that it is 'unjust' to put failed asylum applications in these overcrowded prisons before deportation.
He said: 'Our prisons are overcrowded to the point that we have recorded the highest level of deaths in the prison systems in decades.
'Adding an entirely different cohort of people into an already broken system is entirely unjust.
'These deportation flights are clearly an attempt at performative cruelty.
'For that purpose, an already broken prison system is being stretched further and the effects of that will leave a lasting impression on all of us.'
Minister O'Callaghan further confirmed to Deputy Gannon that the number of deportation orders signed in 2024 increased by 180 per cent compared to 2023, rising to 2,403 from 857.
He continued: 'This year, 1,816 deportation orders have been signed up to May 23 2025.
'Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252 per cent compared to 2023 (317).
'This year, 796 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 23 May 2025.'