Politicians attend Athlone deportation protest

Seanad leader Mary O'Rourke is lending her weight to a campaign to bring home two Nigerian mothers who were deported last month.

Their children went into hiding in Athlone when the women were deported.

They have been separated for around four weeks.

Senator O' Rourke joined a protest attended by over 500 people in Athlone on Saturday.

The European Parliament is to investigate the legality of the deportations.

Labour MEP Pronsias de Rossa said it's a violation of European human rights legislation.

“I’m of the view that Ireland is in breach of those standards by having children removed from classrooms by police and, indeed, by taking actions which splits families,” he said

The European Parliament is very strong on the question of ensuring that families are united, not divided, in terms of asylum, he continued.