Two Chinese men who entered Ireland from Spain were found hiding in the airport restroom and were arrested the next day. The two were charged with entering the country without valid identification documents and were later sentenced to probation before being released.
30-year-old Lin Delin and 36-year-old Li Hu appeared in the Ennis District Court in County Clare on September 11.
The two were arrested the previous day at Shannon Airport in the southwest. Detective Ciaran Keoghan told the court that around 2 a.m. on the 10th, the two were found in the airport’s restroom facilities.
Lin Delin and Li Hu were on the same Ryanair flight from Girona, Spain. They were arrested without passports.
Presiding Judge Alec Gabbett noted that the two had valid identification documents when boarding the flight, but the documents later “disappeared.” Lin Delin and Li Hu were charged with entering Ireland without proper identification in violation of the 2004 Immigration Act. Both pleaded guilty in court.
According to defense lawyer Tara Godfrey, after being discovered in the early hours, the two were initially held at the airport, then taken to Shannon Airport police station, and finally transferred to a nearby prison. The lawyer claimed that the two were treated as “criminals” throughout the process.
Local media reported that on the day of their arrest, the two appeared in Kilrush District Court in the afternoon where they were remanded in custody pending trial. They were then detained at Limerick Prison that night and brought to court the next day in handcuffs.
The defense lawyer stated that the two took the risk of coming to Ireland because conditions in their home country were “extremely harsh and difficult,” and apart from arriving without passports, they had no other issues.
Keoghan expressed reluctance in sending individuals who have never been convicted to prison. He emphasized that they have not committed any crimes abroad and actually need help, support, and care.
The judge sentenced the two to two months of probation, meaning they would not have to serve jail time if they comply with the law and do not commit further offenses.
Taking into account their circumstances, the judge expressed hope that the two would receive the necessary assistance for their living. Inspector Keoghan mentioned that the International Protection Accommodation Service would provide temporary accommodation for the two that night.
This case comes at a time when Ireland is tightening its border controls. The government has implemented a series of measures to curb illegal immigration. One of these measures is ensuring that airlines fulfill their obligations better to ensure passengers have valid identification upon entry. Starting this summer, airlines and ferry companies face fines of up to €5,000 if arriving passengers lack valid identification, an increase from the previous maximum fine of €3,000.
With a significant influx of illegal immigrants, the number of asylum seekers in Ireland has been steadily rising. According to the latest data from the National Protection Center, as of August 1, over 14,000 people have sought asylum in Ireland this year, nearly double the number from the same period last year. The country has also received over 60,000 refugees fleeing conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Central Statistics Office, Ireland’s population increased by nearly 99,000 last year, with approximately 79,000 coming from net migration, marking the highest level since 2007.