An investigation is underway after 14 migrants, including nine men, three women, and two young girls, were discovered hidden in a refrigerated trailer at Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford. The trailer arrived on a ferry from France and was stopped for a search around 3 am on January 8th, 2024.
Irish authorities were alerted after a distress call was made by one of the people travelling in the trailer. Gardaí and ambulances were present at the port when the ferry docked. The migrants were assessed by medical personnel at the scene, and all were said to be in good health. They were taken to a processing centre, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made as part of the inquiry.
The migrants are believed to be Kurdish and Vietnamese, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stated that those who apply for asylum will have their applications processed as quickly as possible. The first response is always humanitarian to ensure that they are alive and in good health. The next step for the government is to facilitate voluntary return for migrants found in Rosslare. If they apply for asylum, they are legally entitled to do so, and the government will try to process the application as quickly as possible.
The discovery of migrants in the trailer highlights the ongoing issue of people smuggling and illegal immigration. The authorities have been working to combat these issues, but they persist. The incident also raises concerns about the safety of migrants, who are often forced to take dangerous journeys in search of a better life. The authorities are working to ensure the safety and well-being of the migrants and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
