Nineteen Moldovan men who arrived in the State on Monday hoping to work in a meat factory are now in the training unit at Mountjoy Prison and threatened with deportation, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Justice O'Neill granted an interim order preventing their deportation, which was scheduled for this morning, and ordered they appear in court today for an inquiry into the legality of their detention.
Mr Peter Finlay SC, for the men, said it was intended they would work with the Kildare Chilling Company in Kildare town. However, they were stopped at Dublin Airport, told they could not stay in the State and would have to leave. Their papers were in order and they had valid work permits and visas. It appeared, because of the BSE situation and culling of cattle, the meat processing business had slowed down, counsel said. Attempts might have been made to tell them the jobs were no longer available, but they were adamant they had no notice of this.
Counsel said employment would become available in a similar line of work soon. There was no reason why the men should be deported. Mr Terence Lyons, solicitor, said in an affidavit he believed the men had applied for jobs in response to advertisements in Moldova. Kildare Chilling Company had procured authorisation from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to employ non-EU nationals.
Mr Lyons said he was advised sums of between $800 and $1,050 were paid by each of the applicants to secure employment and work permits. They understood the monies contributed to the cost of their flight to Ireland.
He was told the applicants were informed on arrival their work permits and visas were invalid. Immigration officers had contacted the company, which said the applicants had been advised not to travel as work was not available.