Two Kurdish men discovered in Carlow town hiding in a containerised articulated truck which had come from the continent are thought to have been in the container for four to five days.
The men were discovered when the driver alerted Carlow gardaí after he heard banging coming from the rear of his vehicle.
Gardaí opening up the container and found the men, aged 36 and 26, dehydrated and hungry. They were brought to Carlow Garda station, where they were given food while a doctor was called.
The Kurdish men were brought to St Luke's County Hospital, Kilkenny, from where they were released the following day, New Year's Eve.
The truck driver, who had been to Spain and France over the Christmas period, was working for a haulage firm from the Portlaoise area. The driver, who is also from Co Laois, had travelled from Cherbourg to Rosslare port on Monday, and had no idea when or where the men gained entry to his vehicle.