Probe urged into racist abuse accusations

ALLEGATIONS that members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) subjected asylum seekers to racist abuse and illegally refused to accept their claim for asylum at Dublin Airport must be investigated immediately, human rights groups demanded.

The allegations are made in a statement in today's Irish Examiner by a man who arrived in Ireland in December, 2001, to claim asylum with his wife. Both have subsequently been granted refugee status and are living happily here. However, according to the statement, the couple were subjected to a torrent of racial abuse by GNIB officers when they presented themselves at passport control.

According to the statement, an immigration official said: "God, more jungle bunnies," when the couple arrived, and replied "Don't give me that crap," when they asked for asylum.