THE OPERATION to evacuate Irish people from Libya began winding down yesterday and the Department of Foreign Affairs said the window of opportunity for anyone wishing to leave was getting smaller.
The department estimated that it had assisted about 100 Irish citizens or dual citizens who wished to leave Libya since the tensions erupted earlier this month.
A spokesman said the department was still dealing with a small number of family groups but it appeared that the majority of people who wished to leave had done so by now.
The department had advised all Irish people in Libya to leave, and warned against travelling to the north African state.
Six Irish people working for a company in Libya arrived at the Athens port of Piraeus yesterday after a turbulent boat journey from Libya. They were met by officials from the Irish embassy.
Another group arrived via Gatwick yesterday morning while seven evacuees flew into Dublin’s Baldonnel airport on Saturday.
Speaking to the media after she got off an Air Corps Learjet, Libyan-based Christine Allen said it had been a terrifying experience for her and her family.
They had not intended to leave until they watched a rambling speech from Col Muammar Gadafy and grew alarmed. She said it was a huge relief to get on the boat which took them from Benghazi to Malta.
“It was frightening, and especially when you see them sitting there, and they are sitting with the guns at the harbour . . .” she said.
“You know anything could happen. Anything could have happened even at that stage.”
Raymond Beauchamp, who was working on a new airport in Benghazi, said the situation had deteriorated significantly in the days before he left.
Security had been provided to the workers, but they still felt uneasy. “It’s just getting progressively worse.”
