EIGHT MISSING

Over half of 14 migrants discovered in shipping container at Rosslare have DISAPPEARED as cops confirm no investigation

It is understood those in the container, who do not speak English, did not realise they were being brought to Ireland.

• Published: 19:45, 11 Jan 2024
• Updated: 19:45, 11 Jan 2024

MORE than half of the 14 migrants discovered in a shipping container at Rosslare Harbour this week have disappeared, it has emerged.

And none of those who have gone missing are being sought by Gardai as they are not under criminal investigation.

The group, all undocumented, had been found inside a refrigerated container at the Co Wexford Europort.

The Irish Independent reported that “at least eight” are missing since being transferred to an asylum centre in Dublin.

The migrants include 10 Kurdish people from Iran and Iraq, including two girls aged six and four.

And there was one person from Turkey and three from Vietnam.

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All were discovered were discovered on a ship arriving from Zeebrugge in Belgium on Monday at 3am.

For a time struggling to breathe on the journey, those in the container had to cut a hole in the side of the container.

UK authorities had alerted gardaí and emergency services were awaiting their arrival at the port.

The 14 were assessed by medics before being transferred for processing.

The crew of the ship have been assisting gardaí with inquiries.

It is understood those in the container, who do not speak English, did not realise they were being brought to Ireland.

An investigation focusing on human trafficking is currently underway.

And Gardai are liaising with Europol officers as they investigate the incident and seek to find out more about the individuals.

Entry investigation

Detectives are also seeking to discover where the group entered the lorry container.

None of the migrants have yet been formally interviewed.

Earlier this week Transport Minister Eamon Ryan talked of “relief” that there were no fatalities.

He said: “We have to do everything we can to try and avoid such carriage and passage because it is dangerous and a risk to the lives of those who are put on or go on to those trucks.

“We have to do what we can to reduce it but you cannot completely eliminate it. We’ve seen that with the UK Government and France, trying to stop that passage.

“It is practically impossible to completely avoid it.”