State security no excuse for jailing innocent visitors

THERE has been considerable media coverage recently about the behaviour of immigration officers towards foreign nationals at Dublin airport, in particular the extremely disturbing treatment of Rev John Achebe.

Despite being in possession of a valid tourist visa and other identity documents, he was strip-searched in front of other prisoners and prison officers, denied access to legal counsel, forced to share a cell with four other prisoners while sharing an open toilet at Cloverhill prison and then removed back to Dublin airport to await deportation.

Had it not been for the intervention of the Nigerian ambassador, the deportation would have gone ahead.