AN Irish school attended by two brothers who were among 35 people deported to Nigeria say they have been left “devastated” in the wake of the event.
The two were part of a group made up of 21 men, nine women, and five children who were refused international protection.
They were removed from the state on June 4 on a chartered flight to Lagos as part of an ongoing Gardai immigration operation.
But principal of St James’s Primary School in Dublin, which two of the children attended, said that the loss of their pupils left other students “devastated”.
Ciaran Cronin told RTE‘s Morning Ireland that the brother’s mum had an immigration appointment scheduled for July.
He opined that to “spring” deportations on children who thought they had an immigration appointment is “very cruel”.
Cronin said other children had witnessed the two boys’ belongings being packed up from their hotel rooms and put on a bus.
He explained: “On Wednesday morning they all came to school completely distressed, upset, visibly shaken by what they had seen at the hotel in the morning.
“They came to school then to tell us that. That’s how we found out what was happening.
“We had been in touch with the mother for a long time, knowing that they were going through the deportation process.”
Cronin added that the primary school had been advocating on the family‘s behalf.
He claimed that they had put in character references for the boys explaining that they wanted them to be let stay in the school.
But, he explained: “On Wednesday morning, when the children came in, we kind of knew it’s the end of the line for them, unfortunately.”
Cronin went on to say that the two boys were “really popular” in school.
He said: “They were part of the football team. They played the Cumann na mBunscol GAA tournament the last two years.
“Had loads of friends and got on really well with everyone.”
He described the two children’s deportation as “a huge loss” to the school.
And he added that teachers had to explain to the other pupils in the school that the boys weren’t coming back.
‘THEY’VE LOST THEIR FRIENDS’
He explained: “At home time yesterday pupils ran out in tears telling their parents that they’re gone.
“They’ve lost their friends, they’re looking to see if they have their WhatsApp, that they can contact them, and they haven’t been able to make contact with them since.”
Social Democrats TD for Dublin Gary Gannon accused the Minister for Justice of wanting to look tough in order to “send a message”.
He told RTE’s Claire Byrne: “I do not want to see a replication of what has happened.
“This cannot happen again. All of this can be done better.”
The Garda National Immigration Bureau confirmed yesterday that it continues to work with the Department of Justice on enforcing immigration policy.
‘CLEAR MESSAGE’
A spokesperson for the force said: “An Garda Siochana continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy.”
The Justice Department had previously said that they carry out deportations as a “last resort” when people have not left the country voluntarily.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said removal operations of this nature “send a clear message” to people who remain in Ireland without permission.
He said: “Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced.
“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.”
