Ireland Deports 42 South Africans, Including 15 Children, on €735,000 Charter Flight
Ireland deported 42 South African nationals, including 15 children, on a €735,000 charter flight. The operation, based on deportation orders, is part of Ireland’s toughening migration rules, with ministers emphasizing a rules-based system. This is the fourth such flight this year, following a significant increase in deportation orders.
Ireland deported 42 South African nationals, including 15 children, on a government charter flight costing €735,000 (excluding VAT). The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carried out the operation on Thursday, removing 18 women, nine men, and 15 juveniles based on deportation orders issued by the minister for justice. The children were part of family groups and not deported alone.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan stated that while most South Africans are legal residents and contribute positively, Ireland’s immigration system must be rules-based, with enforcement being essential for public confidence. Minister of State Colm Brophy reiterated that migrants are welcome but must use legal pathways. Two of the 42 individuals had been convicted of offenses in Ireland.
This marks the fourth deportation charter operation this year, following three previous flights that removed 130 people. Last year, six operations removed 205 people. These flights are part of a broader toughening of migration rules, with a 96% increase in deportation orders last year compared to 2024. In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, and 2,108 have been signed so far this year.