Republic of Ireland immigration system deports 42 South Africans - fourth deportation flight this year
Some 42 South Africans were removed from the Republic of Ireland on a charter flight on Thursday, Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has said.
The flight, which left Dublin at 3.30pm, carried nine men, 18 women and 15 children, his department confirmed.
They said the children were all part of family units.
Also on the flight were members of An Garda Siochana, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.
The cost of the charter flight alone was 735,000 euro excluding VAT for the return flight, but the total cost of the operation has not yet been finalised.
It is the fourth deportation charter flight so far in 2026, with 130 people, including 67 EU citizens, removed from the state this year and more charter flights planned.
In 2025, six charter flights saw 205 people deported on charter flights.
Mr O’Callaghan said deportation orders are an “essential requirement” for the Irish immigration system “to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area”.
He added the “vast majority” of South Africans in Ireland are legally resident “and positively contribute to society”.
Last year, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, up 96% compared to 2024, with 2,108 signed to date this year.
In May the Department of Justice said more than 30 Polish and Lithuanian nationals had been deported from Ireland “on grounds of criminality”.
Some 34 men – 22 from Poland and 12 from Lithuania – ranging in age from their mid-20s to mid-60s, were removed from the State in accordance with the Free Movement Directive.
All those removed had a criminal history in Ireland and received custodial sentences for a range of criminal offences, the Department said.
Twenty-five people had been serving sentences in prison and nine others were arrested and detained prior to their removal, gardai said.
Re-entry bans of up to 10 years have been applied to prevent their return to Ireland.
The flight left Dublin Airport and landed in Warsaw, before landing in Vilinius.
Garda personnel, medical staff, interpreters and a human rights observer accompanied the returnees on the flight.
A total of 88 people had been removed from Ireland by that point in 2026 under the Free Movement Directive.
“European citizens have the right to freedom of movement,” Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said in May.
“Restricting this right is not something I take lightly, but there must be consequences for people whose behaviour means they should no longer enjoy this privilege.
“I will take action if our laws are not upheld. This includes enforcing removal orders for people involved in criminality and for those who pose a danger to society. Today’s operation underpins my commitment in this area.
“I want to acknowledge that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals resident in the State respect our laws, and are valuable members of our society.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the members of An Garda Siochana, as well as officials from my department, for their dedicated work in completing this operation.”