Ireland removed 24 Romanian men to Bucharest on Sunday, with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan saying they were subject to removal orders on criminality grounds under the Free Movement Directive.
O’Callaghan said the men were between 24 and 57 years old. He said limiting European citizens’ freedom of movement was not a step he took lightly, but added that “there must be consequences” when criminal behavior meant a person should no longer have access to that privilege.
The Independent reported that the charter flight left Dublin Airport on Sunday and arrived in Bucharest. The newspaper said each man was given a re-entry ban of up to 10 years and put the cost of providing the aircraft at €182,270.
Eighteen men were serving prison sentences and were transferred directly from Irish Prison Service custody, the Independent reported. The other six had been arrested across Ireland and held in custody before removal, according to the newspaper.
Garda personnel traveled with the group; medical staff, interpreters and a human rights observer were also on board, the report said.
