An Garda Síochána continue to investigate all the circumstances of the discovery of 16 males in a Climate Controlled Trailer Unit on board the STENA Horizon Ferry sailing from Cherbourg, France to Rosslare Europort, Wexford yesterday 21 November 2019.
All the males are believed to be of Kurdish ethnicity from the Middle East Region, however their formal identification is ongoing.
Fourteen (14) males are adult and have sought ‘international protection’. They will now be processed by the International Protection Office (IPO), an office within the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and are currently being accommodated by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).
Two males are now believed to be Juveniles and are currently in the care of TUSLA.
An Garda Síochána continue to carry out a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the discovery of the 16 males.
Garda Press Office
At approximately 9:45am today, Thursday 21st November 2019 the Captain of the Stena Horizon Ferry, sailing from Cherbourg to Rosslare overnight, alerted Gardaí that a number of people had been discovered in the trailer of an articulated tractor unit on the vehicle deck.
Staff on the Ferry, with the assistance of the driver, opened the trailer unit and 16 males were removed and brought to a private lounge where they received immediate medical and welfare care.
The Stena Horizon docked at Rosslare at approximately 2.40pm this afternoon and was met by Gardaí, Immigration Officers and medical staff. All 16 males were medically assessed by doctors and ambulance personnel on the ferry and are assessed to be in general good health.
Gardaí believe that all the men are of Middle Eastern origin and are adults, but Gardaí continue to confirm the age of one man who may be a juvenile.
Garda Immigration Officers attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are now processing the men under immigration legislation. After our initial enquiries they will transferred to a reception centre organized by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) where they will be provided for all their welfare concerns. This has been a traumatic experience for these men and they are being treated with sympathy and compassion.
The articulated lorry was photographed and examined on the ferry and has now been removed to a secure location for further technical examination.
The articulated lorry (tractor and trailer) are owned by a local Irish based company. The owners are co-operating fully with the ongoing investigation. The driver is a male in his 50’s, resident of Ireland for over 25 years and he is co-operating fully with the ongoing investigation.
An Garda Síochána continue to investigate all the circumstances of this incident.
Garda Press Office
An Garda Siochana at Wexford Garda Station are currently investigating potential breaches of Immigration Legislation which may have occurred on board a Stena Line Ferry travelling from Cherbourg, which arrived in Rosslare today at approximately 2.40pm.
At approximately 09:45am today 21 November 2019 the Captain of the Ferry alerted Gardai 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.
An Garda Siochana are now investigating all the circumstances of this incident.
The Articulated Truck involved in this incident has been detained.
The driver and the owners of the articulated vehicle are assisting An Garda Siochana with our enquiries.
An Garda Siochana is making no further comment at this time.
Any person with any information in relation to this incident, no matter how insignificant it may appear, is asked to contact investigating Gardai at Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11, Crimestoppers 1800 25 00 25 or any Garda Station.
