Human trafficking investigation after migrants found in container at Rosslare Europort

Rosslare Europort. Picture: Patrick Browne

Gardaí have issued an appeal for information after two children and 12 adults were discovered hidden within a refrigerated trailer on board a lorry at Rosslare Europort.

Gardaí confirmed in a release on Wednesday evening that a human trafficking investigation had commenced and they are "investigating all of the circumstances of this incident".

"Gardaí were alerted by UK authorities in advance and a co-ordinated plan was put in place with emergency services in Wexford in anticipation of their arrival to the port," the statement read.

"The nine men, three women and two girls have been assessed by medical personnel and have been deemed to be in good health."

The discovery was made at approximately 3am on Monday.

The statement added that gardaí are liaising closely with international counterparts through Europol in The Hague.

"Anyone with any information in relation to this incident, no matter how insignificant it may appear, is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11 or any Garda station."

The 14 people hidden within the trailer are reported to be of Middle Eastern origin.

Speaking earlier, local councillor Ger Carthy said one of the occupants of the refrigerated “roll-on/roll-off” container on board the ship bound for Rosslare Europort managed to make an emergency call at approximately 1am.

He said the call was picked up by the UK Coastguard and patched towards the Irish emergency services where a multi-agency response was triggered.

“It seems to be quite a challenging and very dangerous trip for anyone to make but I believe they had difficulty breathing within the refrigerated container and may have had to break a hole in the side of it to access some air from within the ship itself.” 

Mr Carthy added: “Thankfully, we didn’t have an outcome similar to what we had in the early 2000s when a container came into Rosslare and there was a number of deceased people in it.” He said many people put into these containers may have expected to be going to the UK, but that the journey to Rosslare would have taken 30 hours.

“It could have been a very different outcome.”