THE EIGHT men found alive on a cargo ship from France which was destined for County Waterford have been deported, Gardaí have said.
On Wednesday, eight men believed to be from Albania were discovered 'hiding' on board the ship by members of staff.
Gardaí were alerted and were waiting as the ship docked near Waterford city. Three of the men attempted to flee but were later apprehended by Gardaí and brought to Waterford Garda Station, according to The Irish Times.
Gardaí had confirmed that Garda immigration officers attached to Waterford Garda Station, assisted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, would be undertakng an assessment and that the men would be processed under Ireland's immigration laws.
A medical examination and interview took place with the assistance of an interpreter in order to establish the men's movements before they boarded the ship in St Nazaire.
Following the assessment, and upon discovering that the men were already registered as migrants on European databases, the men were refused "leave of land" and have now been deported, according to The Irish Times.
A Garda escort brought the migrants to Wexford's Rosslare Europort and aboard a ferry destined for France, which departed at 8.30pm last night.
See More: Albania, Deportation, Gardai, Migrants, Waterford
