42 South Africans Deported From Ireland on Chartered Flight

A total of 42 South African nationals have been deported from Ireland following an immigration enforcement operation carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

The operation took place on Thursday and involved the removal of individuals who were subject to deportation orders issued by Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan.

According to authorities, those deported included 27 adults, made up of nine men and 18 women, as well as 15 juveniles who were part of family groups.

All 42 individuals were transported on a chartered flight that departed Dublin on Thursday afternoon and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning.

Officials also disclosed that two of the deported individuals had previously been convicted of offences in Ireland.

A Garda spokesperson said the removals form part of ongoing nationwide immigration enforcement efforts.

“Gardaí continue to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy and the Irish Prison Service in the implementation of these operations,” the spokesperson stated.

The development comes after Ireland’s Department of Justice assumed responsibility for administrative immigration registration functions from the Gardaí in 2024.