Nigerian criminals deemed too 'high risk' to deport on commercial flight removed on charter aircraft

Georgian nationals aboard a plane at Dublin Airport before being deported on a commercial flight last year. File picture Chani Anderson

Gardaí said it was too risky to deport six Nigerian criminals on a commercial flight and a special charter aircraft would be needed instead.

A Garda assessment said some of the men were too “high risk” to consider removal on an ordinary passenger plane.

Instead, they were flown to Rome on a chartered aircraft, which cost the Irish taxpayer nearly €77,000.

There, they joined up with an operation by the Italian government and the European border agency Frontex to have people removed from several EU member states.

The six men had accumulated 75 criminal convictions while living in Ireland.

A briefing document from the Department of Justice explained: “After completion of a risk assessment by the Garda National Immigration Bureau in relation to the six deportees, it was concluded that several of them were high risk, and that it was not appropriate for them to be removed from the State on commercial flights.” 

It said the joint operation in late July filled a gap in the State’s ability to carry out deportations.

The briefing explained commercial airlines only allowed “one deportee per flight”. 

Leasing a jet specifically for use in Ireland was also an option, “but on occasion the numbers on hand may not be sufficient to justify a charter operation”. 

It said on the joint operations, Ireland paid per seat, with costs shared between all the participating EU member states.

The briefing added: “Ireland will be informed of the cost for the seats once the joint return operation is completed.” 

The document, prepared for justice minister Jim O’Callaghan, said Ireland would participate in more of the Frontex flights.

“It will… enable Ireland to return people to countries that it is difficult for Ireland to land a charter in, or where there are insufficient numbers to run a viable charter,” it added.

Asked about the operation, a department spokesperson said: “The removal of people involved in criminality, and those who pose a danger to society, is a priority for Ministers O'Callaghan and Brophy.

“For the charter cited, which participated in a joint return operation to Nigeria managed by Frontex, deportation orders were enforced against six Nigerian nationals.

“Six charter operations to date in 2026 have seen the removal of 221 people from the State, including 67 EU citizens who were removed on grounds of criminality.”