Cork family divided as rejected asylum seekers arrested during immigration check-in

Arrests during routine immigration sign-ons spark concern over family separations and treatment of children and medically vulnerable people

Madeleine Breetzke, her brother, Daniel, and their mother Antonette in Dublin yesterday. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Almost 40 asylum seekers were arrested on Thursday and some families were separated as they went to sign on to notify the State of their whereabouts at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

Those detained have previously been turned down for asylum and were held as the Government cracks down on those who are here illegally.

A total of 38 people were arrested in a "day of action" on Thursday, carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

Some 23 males and 15 females were arrested "in advance of planned national return operations," gardaí confirmed..

"An Garda Síochána continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy," a garda statement said.

Madeleine Breetzke, aged 25, said that her brother and father were arrested and taken away from the family when they went to the GNIB.

She and her mother were permitted to leave with her younger brother, aged 13, “because they didn’t want to put him in an orphanage,” she claimed.

“They just said that they’re going to be taken to a deportation centre and wait until they board the flight. We don’t know where they are and where they’re taking them.”

The family had been living in a direct provision centre in Millstreet, Co Cork for almost five years.

Madeleine said that she had worked in a nursing home and a factory in Mallow and in hospitality over that time.

Her little brother Daniel, who is now in First Year and came to Ireland age eight, was described by his Cork school as “a wonderful asset”. A letter from the school said:

"It is imperative for Daniel’s wellbeing and his academic progress that he be allowed to continue his education with us."

However, the family’s application for asylum was rejected and they were notified that they must leave Ireland.

The family claim that, as white Afrikaners, they will be in danger if they return to South Africa where they said they have been repeatedly threatened with death and rape with men calling to their farm and pointing guns at the family.

Cork-based immigration lawyer Susan Doyle said that people with serious medical issues were detained without their medication yesterday.

Families were not told where their loved ones were being taken in what she described as “a big operation”.

She is calling for an urgent review of deportations involving children and people with serious medical conditions.

“The system in the US is cruel, now Ireland is becoming cruel. There are ways to deport humanely,” Ms Doyle said.

The minister will say these people broke the law by staying here when their application for asylum was rejected, but they’re afraid for their lives and are just clinging onto the last bit of hope.

“And these people have been here for years, working and contributing to society.”

She said Ireland has committed itself to human rights and the protection of children.

“The principle of the ‘best interests of the child’ is enshrined in both international conventions and Irish law.

“Deportation decisions that uproot children from their schools, friends, and communities raise serious questions about whether this principle is being fully upheld in practice", Ms Doyle added.

The Department of Justice were contacted for comment.